Supporting Causes Important To NZers Kellogg

MEDIACOM-RELEASE-KELLOGG

SUPPORTING CAUSES IMPORTANT TO NZERS KELLOGG LAUNCHES

COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAMME

Editor's Note: Some great photos from the beach-front launch of this initiative are available at www.fotopress.co.nz or in the fotopress folder on the INL hub. They include Cory Hutchings, a surf life saving hero who has won the New Zealand Ironman title eight times.

A broad-reaching programme that will provide crucial support for causes important to New Zealanders was launched today by Kellogg.

Kellogg's Community Care will support a series of community and nutrition related causes. First up to benefit this year will be Surf Life Saving New Zealand and the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand.

Kellogg's General Manager in New Zealand, John Collignon, said his company wanted to do more for New Zealanders than simply provide tasty, nutritious breakfast cereals and convenience foods.

"Our aim is to be a responsible citizen working alongside key organisations that help look after community wellbeing."

He said Kellogg was gaining growing recognition for the increasing level of support it provided for mostly non-profit organisations that received limited or no Government funding for their important work.

"As the year progresses we will announce further Kellogg's Community Care initiatives.

"A significant emphasis will be placed on nutrition education. Kellogg has a world wide commitment to this. We have invested heavily in supporting nutrition science research and education for many years."

Mr Collignon said in recent times Kellogg had supported organisations such as New Zealand CCS, the Dairy Advisory Bureau, Agencies for Nutrition Action and Life Education Trust, among others.

MAKING BEACHES SAFER

In recent years Kellogg has extended its support of Surf Life Saving New Zealand. The movement's critical work on New Zealand's beaches helps ensure this country has one of the lowest statistics for drownings in the world.

This summer, under Kellogg's Community Care, the company is supporting surf life saving in a number of ways, including continuing its sponsorship of the movement's highest profile fixture, the annual Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Surf League at Mount Maunganui on February 12-13.

Peter Thorpe, Chairman of Surf Life Saving New Zealand, says the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Surf League is "a great way of showing young people it's fun to be fit and healthy.

"Even if they never qualify for extreme competition such as this one, they can still have a good time as surf life savers learning the water skills that may one day help save a life."

Kellogg's Community Care is also supporting the New Zealand team, the Southern Makos, that is currently competing in Australia, plus the national surf life saving championships to be held at Oakura, New Plymouth, from March 3-5.

In addition, Kellogg is also helping provide patrol gear including shirts, shorts and hats to volunteer and professional lifeguards around the country.

Schools are included in the action too with a Kellogg's Community Care supported surf safety education programme and inter-school competitions being run by Surf Life Saving New Zealand.

The all-important safety message is being reinforced with Kellogg supported community service television advertising on TV1 and TV2, as well as surf safety messages on more than 1 million packs of Kellogg's cereal in supermarkets throughout New Zealand.

Mr Thorpe said New Zealand's surf life saving movement is largely a volunteer organisation that needs corporate support, such as Kellogg's, in order to survive and continue helping to save lives.

"Every summer we see the importance of maintaining high levels of competence among our lifeguards and increasing awareness of water safety among the general public. Last summer our lifeguards patrolled beaches around New Zealand for a total of 128,007 hours. During this time they carried out 60,993 preventative actions and saved 1,838 lives."

HEART HEALTH APPEAL

Mindful that heart disease kills more New Zealanders than any other disease or condition, Kellogg is next month supporting the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand in a novel Valentine's Day campaign.

This February 14 the Heart Foundation is asking everyone to resolve to live heart healthy lifestyles in the names of the ones they love.

Executive Director of the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, John Napier, says one person dies from heart disease every hour in this country but most people could lower their risk by making small changes to their diets and lifestyle.

"By pledging to eat a balanced diet, get some physical activity on a regular basis and not smoke, New Zealanders can help lower their risk of heart disease while increasing their chances of a better quality of life and being around longer to enjoy their loved ones," he said.

The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand plays a major role in providing support for people with heart problems, as well as education on the prevention of heart disease.

"The reality is that without corporate support, such as Kellogg's, and donations from the general public we cannot readily achieve our goals," Mr Napier said.

ENDS....

MEDIA RELEASE FROM KELLOGG

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