Harcourts Foundation reaches $500,000 milestone

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The Harcourts Foundation reaches $500,000 milestone

24 February 2010: More than $500,000 has now been raised for The Harcourts Foundation to donate to worthy causes in the community, Harcourts International Managing Director Mike Green has announced.

Mr Green says the aim was to reach the target of $500,000 in donations by the end of Harcourts' Business Leaders Conference last week and it was great to have achieved that goal and to be able to share the amazing progress made since the Foundation's inception in mid-2008.

As he explains The Harcourts Foundation was set up with the aim of providing financial support that helps, grows and enriches local communities, and in just over 18 months the significant milestone of half a million dollars raised in New Zealand and Australia has already been reached.

"These funds have been raised voluntarily by our dedicated Harcourts team members in Australia and New Zealand through various fundraising events, auctions and individual and office donations, with additional support coming from our business partners," Mr Green says.

To date more than $270,000 of the money raised has been donated to a total of 50 charities from around Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Green says he is extremely proud of the extent to which The Harcourts Foundation's support is growing in New Zealand and Australia from Harcourts' people, their clients and the group's business partners.

"For example since November we have had a 25% increase in the number of Harcourts offices choosing to donate an amount 'off-the-top' of every sale, with more than 120 Harcourts offices signed up to this particular donation scheme now."

Mr Green says he encourages charities in New Zealand to visit The Harcourts Foundation website (www.harcourtsfoundation.org) and to download the relevant grant application form.

"We look forward to funding as many applicants as possible," he says, noting that the closing date for applications for the next round of quarterly grants is 31 March.

ENDS