Glenn Family Foundation Pledge to the Hockey Foundation
Leading New Zealand businessman and philanthropist Owen Glenn is the proud founding patron of the Hockey Foundation.
In June 2011, Glenn pledged $1 million to the Hockey Foundation as well as an annual $100,000 grant for the next three years to talent development that will provide more New Zealand children with the opportunity to play hockey, and develop the talent base.
“To have one of New Zealand’s iconic business leaders and philanthropists believe in our programme is a huge boost and a vote of confidence for the sport,” says Hockey New Zealand chief executive Hilary Poole.
The Glenn Family Foundation pledge of $1 million to the Hockey Foundation, will be gifted when matched by another group of donors.
Mr Glenn is an avid hockey fan having played himself in his youth and followed the Black Sticks for years including in person at the Commonwealth Games in India last year.
“I’m a great believer in the importance of sport and what it teaches young people. I’ve played and followed hockey most of my life and I’m truly taken with the foresight and commitment of Hockey New Zealand. The Black Sticks are going from strength to strength and I’m thrilled to be able to help them foster and develop hockey at the elite level but also through the development of age group because these are our future Black Sticks. Having a strong elite team is great for grassroots development, winning and having role models to aspire to is vital to the sport,” says Glenn.
“It is a privilege for us to have Owen as the Founding Patron of the Hockey Foundation. As an ex-player and having followed hockey closely throughout his life, he is passionate about the growth and development of hockey in New Zealand, and our international competitiveness,” says Poole.
Biography – Owen Glenn
Owen G Glenn ONZM is the founder, owner and executive chairman of OTS Logistics Group - a billion dollar revenue company with offices in 105 countries. It’s one of the world's largest logistics companies with a point of difference – it owns virtually no assets!
Owen’s freight forwarding operation spans North and South America, Asia, Europe and the Pacific utilising state of the art eCommerce solutions that allow his clients to track where in the world their goods are.
Born in Calcutta Owen moved to New Zealand aged 11, he schooled at Mt Roskill Grammar leaving at 15. Owen considers himself a New Zealander despite his logistics business activity requiring him to be based overseas. Owen sees education as a key element in today’s world and over the past four years he has contributed over $8 million to the Auckland University for the development of the Business School’s facilities and other initiatives including scholarships.
Philanthropy is a huge part of Owen’s life. Many people are unaware that his Glenn Family Foundation has supported hundreds of humanitarian causes throughout the world. The Foundation’s philosophy very much mirrors Owen’s personal outlook on life focusing on the importance of education, health, helping oneself and family as the foundation of a community. In addition to the University of Auckland, New Zealand and individual Kiwis are better off as a result of the Glenn Family Foundation, including a $3.85 million donation to the National Training Centre for High Performance Sport at the Millennium Institute on the North Shore. www.glennfamilyfoundation.org
Owen Glenn received an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2008 as recognition of his business achievements and his work as a philanthropist. Most recently he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary, for aid to the under-privileged.
Having played hockey for the Albertans Hockey Club in Auckland, Glenn has fond memories of his playing days and continues to be an avid supporter of the game.
