A Children's Christmas Foundation donates $180k of toys in its inaugural year

Over 2,000 Children in Need to Receive a Gift This Christmas

A Children’s Christmas Foundation has purchased more than $180k of toys, giving to those kids that need it most in the Hawkes’s Bay community.

Christmas 2018 sees the launch of an ambitious new initiative aimed at making a difference to the lives of children experiencing hardship across Hawke’s Bay. A Children’s Christmas Foundation was created to address the alarming trend for child poverty in Hawke’s Bay, where an estimated 23% of Hawke’s Bay children[1] live below the poverty line, with many of these children experiencing extreme hardship. The Foundation was created with the goal of making a difference to the thousands of Hawke’s Bay children who might not otherwise receive a gift this Christmas.

A Children’s Christmas Foundation was created by Craggy Range and their friends and business partners. The inspiration came when Craggy Range was featured in an advertising campaign for ASB, who offered a donation to a charity of Craggy Range’s choice as a thank you for the winery’s participation. From there A Children’s Christmas was born, and Craggy Range friends and business partners quickly contributed substantial sums to the fund.

These contributions have enabled the purchase of over $180,000 worth of gifts, with a focus on long-lasting active and educational items. These include 1,200 scooters, 2,000 Books, 350 skateboards, 800 rugby balls, 800 basketballs, and 200 trikes, which will be packed into 2,000 Santa sacks, with contents tailored to age groups from toddlers to teenagers. Each child will receive a scooter, trike or a skateboard as well as a ball and a book. The Foundation is also collaborating with Richie McCaw and Dan Carter through their iSport charity, as a key focus is sporting equipment, and promoting outdoor activity.

The Foundation has brought on board Ana Apatu from the Wharariki Trust to help coordinate the distribution of gifts, working with a broad group of charities to reach as many families in need across the community. According to Ana Apatu “It is really great to see local business and individuals coming out to support the community at such an important time, so we are more than happy to help them get the gifts to those kids that need it most”.

Nigel Annett, Executive General Manager of Corporate Banking at ASB said, “we’re delighted that our initial contribution helped kick-start such a worthwhile initiative. The generosity of all donors is really impressive, and we are so pleased to have played a part in making this happen.”

An army of local volunteers including representatives from the Magpies, local firefighters and Craggy Range staff will pack over 5,000 gifts into Santa sacks over the course of early December, with gifts being distributed to children in need across the length and breadth of Hawke’s Bay from 11th December.

Craggy Range CEO Michael Wilding explains “Being a family business Christmas is a very important time. Christmas is about the kids, and we think this will contribute towards a pretty special Christmas for more than 1800 kids in need of our support. It is great to be working with such a respected network of charities - they are the heroes in our community and we are simply there to support them.”

While some Craggy Range partners have donated money, others have offered their services to help generate more funds. World class business leader and Craggy Range Ambassador, Rob Fyfe (ex CEO of Air New Zealand and Icebreaker) will donate his time to present a business workshop, while world class chefs Josh Emett and Casey McDonald will be offering an in-home cooking classes. Finally, but maybe most excitingly for some, All Black legend Dan Carter will be coming to Hawke’s Bay to host a kicking and skills session. All of these items will be sold off with 100% of the proceeds going to the Foundation.

According to Wilding “Given the amazing response we received when we first discussed the initiative with our friends and business associates we have set up A Children’s Christmas Foundation. We believe in thinking big and dreaming bigger, so Craggy Range’s vision is to commit to significantly increasing the reach and impact of this project year-on-year.”

While the Foundation has achieved the target for 2018 in terms of toys, if people or local businesses wish to contribute, the Foundation welcomes the donation of additional Children’s books to fill the Christmas sacks. These can be dropped off or sent to the winery.

A Children’s Christmas Foundation has been generously supported by
Wharariki Trust, Alium Capital Management, Tomoana Transport, Tribeca Capital, Mint Asset Management, Tumu Timbers, VGI Partners, Advanced Plumbing, ASB, Bayswater Group, Grundy Productions, KIS Capital, Lowe Corporation, Hawke’s Bay Rugby, Waimarama Fire Brigade, Rebel Sport, The Warehouse, iSport Foundation, Havelock North Fire Brigade, McHardy Family, Driscoll Family, Linden Family, Edgar Family, Dan Carter, Ana Apatu, Josh Emett, Rob Fyfe, Vicky Roebuck, Richard Brimer.

ends

© Scoop Media