APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

The Trustees of the Softball Foundation NZ Trust announce that applications for our next round of grants will open from 4th November 2024 and close on 13th December 2024. 

We are inviting applications for financial support from young female softballers who are experiencing some form of financial hardship that could prevent them from playing or taking advantage of higher honours.   The purpose of the grant is to ensure, through the support of individual athletes, that there will be broader benefits to the sport.

All applications must meet the purpose of the Trust set out in the Grant Policy Document which can be found at www.softballfoundationnz.org.nz.  It is preferable applicants are between 13 and 25 years of age.

To be successful, we need your help!  You will know female athletes who would benefit from this type of financial assistance AND will be willing to give back to the sport in the future, for future generations – this is a key criterion for the grant.  

Please forward this email to those players directly or to coaches, managers or whanau members who know of players who would meet the application criteria.

If you have questions, please email us at info@softballfoundationnz.org.nz  

More about the Trust

The Softball Foundation New Zealand Trust was launched in October 2022 to help nurture and support the development of girls’ and women’s softball in New Zealand, with a particular focus on the needs of female softballers from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

The creation of the trust had been the focus of discussion over the years about the age-old dilemma of the cost for female players to play our game when representing their country whilst retaining them at the critical transition from junior to senior levels.

One of our most passionate whanau, Lyndsey Leask, turned this discussion into a

reality by leaving the female game a legacy from her estate to get the Trust underway.

Lyndsey was a dedicated and fully involved trailblazer for women in our sport. She was a

player, coach and administrator for Canterbury and part of the NZ Women’s Team from

1973-1982 changing the role of chaperone to manager. In 1993 she became NZ Softball’s

first female President alongside her 25 years of service as a New Zealand Softball Councillor.

Not content with national service, Lyndsey also served on the International Softball

Federation and was appointed to the Technical Committee for the first Olympic Games for

softball in USA in 1996.

Lyndsey’s legacy was to have the Trust set up to nurture and develop the sport of girl’s and

women’s softball in New Zealand, having particular focus on the needs of softballers from

lower-socio economic backgrounds.

The trust has four trustees – Cheryl Kemp, Hoani Lambert, Rebecca Bromhead and Lyn Lockhart .  Our contact details are Softball Foundation NZ Trust, Sports House, Softball NZ. 93 Hutt Park Rd, Seaview. Lower Hutt. P O Box 30322. info@softballfoundationnz.org.nz

Want to donate?

The Trust is extremely grateful to our donors.  Donations ensure that the work of the Trust can build on the generous gift left by Lyndsey Leask and benefit thousands more female softballers in the future.

There are four ways to donate – by one-off Credit Card payment (in $50 increments); internet banking; direct debit; or by bequest.

Information about how to donate can be found on our website at www.softballfoundationnz.org.nz