ππ Congratulations to Sam Quinn - Our Christmas Giveaway Recipient ππ
This year, we're thrilled to celebrate Sam Quinn as the recipient of Volunteer Marlborough's Christmas Giveaway! Samantha was nominated by Aimee Materoa, who shared these heartfelt words:
"I'd like to nominate Samantha Quinn. She goes above and beyond for Kaha Basketball. No one has any idea the amount of hours and late nights she puts into our academy and for the whole whΔnau. She's a special gem."
Sam is the Chair of Kaha Basketball, a part of Kaha Academy Incorporated, where their values - team before self, resilience, courage, and respect - shine in everything they do. Samantha spoke passionately about the rangatahi involved, their dedicated coaches, and the Academy's many accomplishments.
The teams have represented Marlborough proudly on the world stage, traveling to Japan, the USA, Australia, and Auckland. Their Under 18 team recently won the premiere division SAS tournament! The coming year is set to be just as exciting, with two trips planned to the USA and one to Australia for Hoop Nation. The Academy fundraises tirelessly to ensure players & coaches can attend these opportunities, with other volunteers generously covering their own costs to join them.
A recent highlight for the Academy has been the development of their own haka, crafted with the guidance of Hawaiki Kura, thanks to dedicated funding. This unique haka embodies their values and serves as a source of pride and connection for the players.
Sam shared her love for the work she does, saying: "Growing good humans takes a village, and we have a great one here!"
From all of us at Volunteer Marlborough, thank you, Samantha, for your incredible dedication to our community and to the rangatahi of Kaha Academy. Your passion & hard work are truly inspiring!
To learn more about Kaha Basketball, visit their website: www.kahabasketball.nz