First Foundation assists academically talented and financially disadvantaged students across Aotearoa to achieve their potential through tertiary education and prepares them to positively influence and benefit their communities.
Since 1998, First Foundation’s scholarships, mentoring programmes and paid work experience, have supported students by helping them with university costs, supporting and guiding them through major transitions from high school to university, developing skills in a safe work environment and building new networks.
Working with First Foundation allows us to create opportunities for talented youth from low decile schools, to succeed when they otherwise wouldn’t have access to financial resources and professional networks. As well as the firm funding a scholarship, a number of our lawyers have been First Foundation scholars and several of our people volunteer as mentors.Michael Harper, First Foundation relationship partner
Chapman Tripp has provided pro bono legal support to First Foundation for many years. In 2015, we expanded our relationship to include financial support. This includes providing student sponsorships that offer work experience at all of our offices, as well as operational funding for First Foundation programmes.
