Preliminary Blind Week results nearly $1 million

Thu, 18 Nov 2004

Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind: Preliminary Blind Week results nearly $1 million and counting!

Preliminary Blind Week results ; nearly $1 million and counting!

We can't afford for you not to see us was the theme for this year's Blind Week appeal and preliminary results show that New Zealanders certainly saw our volunteers in their bright orange hats and vests.

Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) volunteer collectors sporting the fluorescent orange gear took to the pavements from 26 October - 1 November and have so far collected over $600,000!

This added to the direct mail and household mail donations brings the Blind Week total to nearly the $1 million goal - with a lot more yet to be counted!

"Yet again we've had a fantastic response from the New Zealand public," says Jeanette Manson, RNZFB Divisional Manager Fundraising.

"And with more donations to be lodged and processed we are expecting to have a final result in December, exceeding our $1 million target!"

Ms Manson attributes the appeals success to the ongoing help of our volunteers and the vivid attire they wore during Blind Week.

Around 10,000 people donated their time to either collect door-to-door or in the street appeal.

"Volunteers play a vital role during Blind Week and we would really like to thank every single volunteer and particularly service clubs like the Lions and Rotary, church and community groups and schools for getting out there and helping us again with our cause," says Ms Manson.

Collectively the doorknock and street appeal has raised $602,431 so far:

Auckland/ Northland $142,541 Waikato $35,130 Bay of Plenty/ Coromandel $59,004 Hawkes Bay $24,981 Taranaki /Manawatu /Wellington $106,524 Nelson/Marlborough $23,023 Canterbury/Westcoast $106,189 Otago/Southland $102,605 National $ 2,434 TOTAL $602,431

The Foundation has also received over $352,287 to date from the Blind Week direct mail and household mail with more to come.

"It's great to see New Zealander's reach into their pockets and support us each year," says Ms Manson.

The money raised from the Blind Week appeal will help provide essential services and support for thousands of blind, vision-impaired and deafblind New Zealanders.

With limited government support the RNZFB has to raise at least $15 million from donations, sponsorships and bequests to cover the more than $21 million it costs to run these essential services each year.

The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind is New Zealand's primary service provider for blind, vision-impaired and deafblind people. Every year nearly 1500 New Zealanders either go blind or experience serious sight loss.

ENDS

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