Unsung heroes benefit big from grant

19 JUNE 2008
For Immediate Release

Volunteering Waikato were today announced as the inaugural recipient of the $15,000 Community Media Grant. It’s an apt reward, smack right in the middle of National Volunteers Week, for their work raising volunteer help for over a hundred community organisations in Hamilton each year.

The announcement was jointly made by grant partners Community Radio Hamilton, bettle and Hamilton City Council. This year is this first year the annual grant has been awarded. It is designed to bridge the marketing and promotional funds gap in the notfor- profit sector, by providing $15,000 worth of campaign planning, graphic design, advertising and editorial to a deserving community organisation in Hamilton each year.

The CMG panel considered over 35 high calibre applications in its deliberations, finally awarding the grant to Volunteering Waikato based on the great progress the group had made in building organisational capacity over the last year, its unique role in touching such a wide range of other community organisations through its supply of volunteer help and its potential to achieve even greater results through the marketing opportunities the grant will enable.

“The skills and expertise that will be made available to us through this grant is invaluable,” say Volunteering Waikato general manager Heather Kemp. “During the past year we have been working hard to raise the profile of volunteering and we have a long way to go. The more we are able to raise our profile, the more potential volunteers we will be able to attract, and the more assistance we can then provide in our community."

“Having limited resources has meant that we have not been able to raise our profile anywhere near as much as we would like. Receiving the Community Media Grant this year will make an enormous difference to Volunteering Waikato, and to our clients and members."

Hamilton mayor Bob Simcock says, “As a concept volunteering provides a huge opportunity for community building in our city, for that reason we’re pleased to see Page 2 of 2 Volunteering Waikato benefit from the grant this year, it makes perfect sense. Over a hundred organisations currently benefit from Volunteering Waikato’s work and they aim to grow that a further 30% in the coming year. Pay that forward to the many many people who benefit from the services those community organisations provide and the reach of benefits is huge."

“The Community Media Grant is an opportunity we are proud to be involved with”, says Community Radio Hamilton general manager Phil Grey. “As an organisation with a large volunteer base we can really appreciate the benefits it provides so many in the community. Organisations like Volunteering Waikato are what the grant is all about."

Moving forward Volunteering Waikato will work with bettle, Community Radio Hamilton and Hamilton City Council to develop a provocative PR campaign based around the organisation’s core business of helping helpers.

“Partnering in the Community Media Grant is a great opportunity for bettle to give back to the community and provide this great community organisation with a valuable tool they otherwise might not be in the position to afford. We’re looking forward to working with Volunteering Waikato and looking forward to seeing the public’s reaction to the campaign. Keep your eyes peeled!"

ENDS

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