Community Organisations Benefit From TVNZ

TVNZ today announced the recipients for the TVNZ Community Support Foundation for 2001/2002.

Seventeen organisations working in the areas of health, education, culture, youth and the environment have been chosen to collectively receive more than $2.1 million dollars of free advertising air time that TVNZ provides to charitable organisations each year.

TVNZ Chief Executive, Rick Ellis, says the company takes considerable pride in being able to support organisations that play such a vital role in the community and which can benefit from increased exposure and assistance in fundraising.

"Over the past 17 years, TVNZ has committed in excess of $22 million of airtime to assist charitable community-based organisations to raise awareness of their activities to New Zealanders through television."

The following organisations will receive national airtime for one year, commencing 1 July 2001.

* Victim Support * New Zealand Blood Service * Well Child Coalition * Family Planning Association * Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand * Starship Foundation (10th birthday campaign) * Youthline Inc * The Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand * Surf Life Saving New Zealand * Te Taura Whiri I te reo Maori (Maori Language Commission)

A further seven organisations will receive targeted airtime support to promote their fundraising campaigns between 1 July 2001 and 30 June 2002.

· National Collective of Independent Women's Refuge · Arthritis Foundation of NZ · Alzheimers New Zealand Inc · Asthma and Respiratory Foundation · New Zealand Endometriosis Foundation Inc · Cancer Society of New Zealand · New Zealand Aids Foundation

Chief Executive of Women's Refuge, Merepeka Raukawa-Tait said TVNZ's Community Support Foundation is an invaluable partnership that supports Women's Refuge enormously.

"Without the support of TVNZ, many women and children wouldn't receive information aimed at helping them. TVNZ also plays a role in raising awareness about family violence and the work Women's Refuge does to help build a safe future for all New Zealanders."

Stephen Bell, Director of Youthline, said that the support the TVNZ Community Support Foundation provides his organisation has enabled Youthline to reach out and provide much needed assistance to many thousands of young people.

"Calls to our helpline have consistently increased since TVNZ got involved in supporting Youthline. Young people's lives have been saved through this amazing initiative."

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