SPCA Proud to be Associated with Toyota New Zealand

REVISED AND FINAL VERSION

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20 March 2013

SPCA Proud to be Associated with Toyota New Zealand

Toyota New Zealand is celebrating 25 years as New Zealand’s best-selling car company by paying it forward and donating brand new vehicles to a number of New Zealand charities for one year.

The Royal New Zealand SPCA is grateful to have been chosen as one of Toyota’s lucky charities. All 25 of the donated vehicles now have loving new homes, with one going to Sara Elliott-Warren, SPCA Saving Lives Ambassador, and the rest being allocated to 24 of the SPCA’s most under-resourced Centres nationwide.

“The SPCA’s Saving Lives programme aims to increase the save rate of the thousands of animals that come in to SPCA Centres every year,” says Sara Elliott-Warren, SPCA Saving Lives Ambassador. “It is a crucial part of my role to visit each of our Centres across the country and meet face-to-face with the team on the ground, to discuss their achievements and see where we can do better.”

“With this vehicle I can make sure we are giving our SPCAs the best support possible in helping them meet our Saving Lives objectives and accomplish more for the animals in our care.”

Robyn Nahr, Buller SPCA Fundraising Manager, says, “We are extremely excited to have been given the use of this vehicle, as it will replace our aging van which may not have passed another WOF. Thanks to Toyota we know we can continue to attend animal welfare incidents promptly.”

Faye Johnson, Hastings & Districts SPCA Fundraising Manager, says, “We are very grateful to Toyota for their support. Our new vehicle will be used by our staff on Education visits, visits to rest homes and other general business around our district. We are happy that this donation has enabled us to build a stronger relationship with our local Toyota dealer, who is providing further support to our Centre and other Centres in our region.”

Toyota New Zealand is committed to supporting important causes and helping to foster talent nationwide. By donating the use of their vehicles for one year, Toyota aims to help New Zealand charities deliver their services into local communities.

“There are a lot of organisations doing great work in our Kiwi communities but often they don’t have the funding or resources they need,” says Steve Prangnell, Toyota New Zealand General Manager. “We believe in trying to make a difference, so we are lending a hand by providing cars.”

Toyota’s donation could not have come at a better time for the Royal New Zealand SPCA. “The use of vehicles is so crucial in allowing SPCA Centres to attend to animal welfare concerns in their areas,” says Robyn Kippenberger, Royal New Zealand SPCA National Chief Executive.

“We have to do our best with the resources we have available. Some of our Centres were using cars that really were on their last legs, and because our first priority with any funding we receive is to direct it towards helping our animals, funding for replacement vehicles would have been difficult to find.”

“We’re so thankful for Toyota’s amazing generosity. We’re now able to make sure our team can continue carrying out their vital work in their communities.”

Toyota New Zealand has helped to make a real difference to the SPCA’s dedicated team across the country, all of whom work tirelessly in often difficult situations as they strive to deliver the best world for our animals.

ENDS

Notes

The 25 recipients of the SPCA’s brand new Toyota vehicles were:

SPCA Saving Lives Ambassador, Sara Elliott-Warren

Bay of Islands SPCA

Buller SPCA

Central Hawkes Bay SPCA

Fielding & Districts SPCA

Gisborne SPCA

Golden Bay SPCA

Gore & Districts SPCA

Hastings & Districts SPCA

Hawkes Bay SPCA

Hokitika SPCA

Horowhenua SPCA

Kaitaia SPCA

Kawerau SPCA

Marlborough SPCA

Motueka SPCA

North Taranaki SPCA

Rotorua SPCA

South Waikato SPCA

Te Kuiti SPCA

Thames SPCA

Turangi SPCA

Waihi SPCA

Wairarapa SPCA

Whangarei SPCA

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