The benefits of helping students in need

Appreciation of having a life full of opportunities thanks to an excellent education is one reason why University of Auckland Foundation General Manager Richard Sorrenson and his wife Professor Helen Sword donate to student scholarships.

Richard says lending a hand to students is a “great privilege” for him and Helen, who is the Director of the Centre for Learning and Research in Higher Education (CLeaR) at the University.

“Helen and I, when students, had significant amounts of support so we’re very happy to be able to do a little bit ourselves in return.”
Their recent donation was to the Kupe Leadership Scholarship fund. These prestigious scholarships fund one year’s study for exceptional students and enrich their learning through leadership development and one-on-one mentoring with someone who is a respected leader in their field.

Richard and Helen’s gift has provided funding for two Kupe Leadership Scholarships. One supports Grace Leehan who is studying a Bachelor of Music (Honours) and the second scholar will be named next year. Grace is mentored by Jess Hindin, one of New Zealand’s most successful professional violinists.

There are 14 Kupe Leadership Scholars this year. The scholarships are the vision of Canadian philanthropist and Rhodes Scholar John McCall MacBain who, through the McCall MacBain Foundation, matches the gifts of donors who give to the Kupe Leadership Scholarships.

“I think one of the great privileges in life is to become a donor,” Richard says.

“There’s no point at all sitting on money that you don’t need yourself or your children don’t need. And it’s just so much fun. That’s the selfish motive – it’s actually more pleasurable than going on a trip or buying a new car because it’s such a personal, powerful experience and I’d thoroughly recommend it.”

Richard’s family has been connected with the University for nearly seven decades; his father is Emeritus Professor of History Keith Sorrenson and his mother, Judith, is also an alumna. Richard graduated with a Master of Science in 1984 and completed his PhD at Princeton University where he met Helen. Both of their sons have recently graduated from Auckland; Peter in 2016 and David in 2019.
He says he and Helen, along with the donors he meets, receive great fulfilment out of investing in future generations.

“Not only having been a donor but meeting lots of donors in my role, boy, the smiles on their faces when they’ve made the decision, they’ve signed the gift agreement or when they meet their first student or talk to the professor about a research project, it’s this deep profound pleasure.

“One of the best and most enjoyable things I think you can do in life is to help other people.”