Guide Dog Appeal hits a new record – best ever!

From the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind
For immediate release

Guide Dog Appeal hits a new record – best ever!

The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) still can’t believe the news that donations received from this year’s Guide Dog Appeal street collection have reached $507,804 with still some more to come!

With the target from the street appeal at $360,000, Jeanette Manson, RNZFB Divisional Manager Fundraising, says receiving nearly $150,000 over the original figure is phenomenal.

“From start to finish the entire appeal has just been fantastic,” says Ms Manson.

“I’m not sure if it was the bright red vests or the creative television commercial but all in all it has been a huge success.”

Held from 2 – 4 April, the 2004 annual Guide Dog Appeal saw thousands of volunteer collectors hit the streets wearing bright red vests to collect donations so the RNZFB can continue breeding, raising, training and matching guide dogs to its blind and vision-impaired members.

For the RNZFB’s Guide Dog Appeal, the last two years have seen an increase in the number of donations received, as well as an increase in the number of people volunteering nationwide.

It is a trend that is going against the norm for many charities in New Zealand.

“Often it’s getting volunteer collectors that is the difficult part,” says Ms Manson.

“But despite this, every year we have numerous people who volunteer time after time and quite frankly, the appeal just wouldn’t happen without them.”

“Not only do we owe a big thank you to the volunteers, especially all the Bayleys Realty Group staff, but also to the New Zealand public for getting behind us,” Ms Manson says.

“Without generous donations from the public we wouldn’t be able to provide the level of support that we do currently for blind and vision-impaired New Zealanders.”

Of the $507,804 received from the street appeal the amount received in each region is as follows:

2004 2003

Auckland/Northland $154,387 $101,721
Waikato/King Country $24,409 $10,140
Bay of Plenty $69,144 $24,141
Hawkes Bay $23,282 $17,778
Wellington/Taranaki/ Manawatu $84,648 $73,343
Nelson/Marlborough $24,883 $15,191
Canterbury/ West Coast $72,428 $68,694
Otago/Southland $53,900 $61,346
National $722 $2,959

TOTAL $507,804 $375,313

All up the Guide Dog Appeal has raised $812,791. This includes $304,987 from the direct mail activity.

Money raised from the appeal will go towards guide dogs and other essential, specialised services the RNZFB provides for its members.

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