The Graeme Dingle Foundation is a highly successful youth charity, named in recognition of Kiwi adventurer and personality Sir Graeme Dingle who founded the not-for-profit organisation with his partner Jo-anne Wilkinson, Lady Dingle in 1995. Over twenty years ago, Sir Graeme Dingle and Jo-anne Wilkinson had a vision to improve New Zealand's negative youth statistics. They have helped over 200,000 young Kiwis be more confident, find purpose and direction, and achieve success. The Graeme Dingle Foundation continues to run school-based programmes for thousands of Kiwis aged between 5 and 18. Graeme Dingle Foundation Waikato is proud to partner with Waikato schools, businesses, and community organisations to deliver Graeme Dingle Foundation programmes (Kiwi Can, Stars and Career Navigator) that help kids understand that what they have inside is greater than any obstacle. With University research partners, the Graeme Dingle Foundation programmes are proven to improve attitudes and behaviours, improve academic outcomes, help young people set and achieve goals, boost self-confidence, reduce truancy rates and at risk behaviours such as substance abuse: and help young people feel more positive about the future. The ‘Growing Great Futures – Whakatipu Tamariki Ora’ report prepared by Infometrics, showed that every dollar invested in The Graeme Dingle Foundation’s programmes is expected to result in a long-term benefit to New Zealand of $7.15. The programmes all change lives and are informed by best-practice research.
