WAI Wānaka has received a $US10,000 grant from Riot Games, creator of popular online game ‘League of Legends’, to continue their work in the Upper Clutha. 

The organisation was selected from 19,000 submissions from all over the world.

WAI Wānaka science coordinator Ash Rabeat submitted an entry late one night and was thrilled to receive notification that WAI’s submission was chosen.

“We’re grateful for any support of the work we do in the Upper Clutha – this grant will help us deliver education and research projects in the community, and continue to engage businesses, tourists and residents to understand more about our ecosystems and how we can protect them,” Ash said.

WAI Wānaka’s vision is for healthy ecosystems and community wellbeing for future generations in the Upper Clutha. They carry out work across rural, urban and tourism sectors to accelerate local action for freshwater.

WAI Wānaka chair Mandy Bell said while the organisation has project funding to carry out specific tasks, grants like this enable the group to pursue activities outside of these project scopes which are still important to the community. 

“WAI has an amazing team and we are committed to working with other organisations who are focused on enduring outcomes for this community,” she said.

In addition to carrying out education and research projects, WAI Wānaka employs 44 people, including a field team carrying out environmental work on farms funded by the Ministry for Primary Industry Jobs for Nature Fund. It also works in partnership with Te Kākano to carry out riparian planting across the Upper Clutha through the Wānaka Water Project.

Thirty grants have been awarded to nonprofits nominated by players under the Riot Games Social Impact Fund, a philanthropic venture fund to make direct investments into a variety of global organisations aimed at solving some of the world’s most pressing issues. 

The recipient organisations span across 18 countries and six continents and each receive $10,000 grants to support their powerful contributions to communities around the world. 

Riot Games said it was blown away by players coming together to share their passion for so many important causes.

PHOTO: Supplied