Blind Week Results

The Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind has raised $1,056,323 from the Blind Week appeal, beating the one million dollar mark!

"This result is fantastic!" says Jeanette Manson, RNZFB National Fundraising Manager.

"And it's all down to our dedicated volunteers and the generosity of New Zealanders."

Ms Manson says that over 15,500 people nationwide volunteered their time to help with this year's Blind Week appeal.

"Many of these collectors were also out pounding the pavements during the Guide Dog appeal in April and often will help out with other ongoing events and services throughout the year.

"The Foundation is extremely lucky to have this level of commitment from the community."

The money raised from the appeal means the Foundation can continue to provide essential services such as orientation and mobility, techniques of daily living, and talking and braille books to the 12,500 blind and sight-impaired New Zealanders.

The doorknock and street appeal raised:
Auckland and Northland $133,780
Waikato $63,916
Bay of Plenty and Coromandel $58,329
Hawkes Bay $26,739
Taranaki, Manawatu and Wellington $98,990
Nelson and Marlborough $28,003
Canterbury and the Westcoast $89,834
Otago and Southland $101,607

Total $601,198

The Foundation also received $320,262 from the Blind Week national direct mail and $134,863 from the letterbox collection envelope drop.
It costs the Foundation for the Blind $19.7 million to provide essential services to blind and sight-impaired New Zealanders. The Foundation receives limited government and needs to raise $12 million annually through donations.

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