Helping Hand of SBS Bank Reaches $150,000

7 June 2013

Helping Hand of SBS Bank Reaches $150,000

SBS Bank is pleased to announce it has donated more than $150,000 to 74 worthy community groups in the Canterbury region through its Helping Hand package.

SBS Bank Area Manager Canterbury Matthew Mark says the package had been designed to help charity groups get back on their feet after the earthquakes.

“At SBS Bank we’re passionate and committed to helping our local communities become strong, vibrant places for us all to live in. The Helping Hand package enables community groups to continue with the amazing work they currently do whilst giving them an added boost at a much needed time.”

Through the Helping Hand package, SBS Bank committed $100,000 per year, for three years (until 2014), to match the fundraising efforts of those community groups who bank with SBS.

“We’ve been really pleased with the level of interest and the number of applications we’ve received and we’re stoked to have been able to help over 70 local community groups in their endeavours. From the Shoreline Youth Trust to the Belfast Bowling Club and even to the QE2 Swim Club, we’re proud to have helped them all,” Mr Mark said.

One of the groups grateful for SBS Bank’s Helping Hand package is the QEII Swim Club. Following the earthquakes the club was faced with a number of challenges, the biggest being the loss of their pool. Despite this, the QEII team worked hard to fundraise; holding regular swim meets and sausage sizzles. Through the Helping Hand fund, SBS Bank matched the fundraising efforts of the group.

These funds were then used by the swim club to send teams to meets around New Zealand.

QEII Swim Club President Lawrence Taylor said the city’s lack of a 50m pool often meant that team members were required to travel further to attend swim competitions.

“Without support from SBS Bank’s Helping Hand package some team members just wouldn’t be able to attend these meets,” Mr Taylor said.

“It’s tough raising funds when you are a minority sport like swimming and the support from SBS Bank has been fantastic.”

This year the QEII Swim Club were named the Top Junior Club in New Zealand.

SBS staff are also keen to get involved with community groups events and are more than happy to lend them their marquees or barbeque trailer and help out with prizes to help make their fundraising efforts a success.

For further information on the Helping Hand package please visit: http://www.sbs.net.nz/Services/NonprofitOrganistations/SBSBankHelpingHand.aspx

ENDS

© Scoop Media