FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SKYCITY Breakers ‘StandTall’ for PledgeMe Campaign

4/06/2013

The SKYCITY Breakers are showing their support for at-risk kiwi kids who want to dream big, and are prepared to work hard to reach their potential, by offering rewards for people who donate to the StandTall PledgeMe campaign being launched today.

The rewards, which range from signed ball and jerseys, to access to exclusive team training sessions, have been donated by the SKYCITY Breakers to encourage the New Zealand public to support the StandTall PledgeMe campaign which is looking to raise $10,000 to send sixty at-risk intermediate-aged children on the StandTall Cadet Camp.

Choice Foundation Founder Carl Sunderland says the organisation is honoured to have the support of the SKYCITY Breakers, who are wonderful role models for our community and a team that our children can look up to.

"We're very excited to have the SKYCITY Breakers on-board to help us raise money for this year's StandTall Cadet Camp and hope basketball fans and kiwis that care about the future of our kids will do likewise," says Mr Sunderland.

For the SKYCITY Breakers, supporting the Choice Foundation was a logical choice due to the positive impact that they are having for at-risk children, says SKYCITY Breakers Community Liaison Manager Hayden Allen.

“The SKYCITY Breakers have always been heavily involved with the community, and we’re proud to be supporting a campaign like this because we know how much the kids love this camp – and how big an impact it has on their lives.”

The StandTall Cadet Camp, which has been running since 2009, is one of the main components of the StandTall program and was created to give disadvantaged children the opportunity to take part in a variety of educational and leadership experiences in an outdoor setting.

Mr Sunderland says that the greatest thing about running the Cadet Camp is seeing how much the children get out of it, how they develop responsibility and teamwork and how committed they are to take what they’ve learnt back with them and become leaders in their schools and communities.

However, without the support of the New Zealand public, the Choice Foundation fears that they will be unable to offer kids the opportunity to attend the StandTall Cadet Camp this year.

For more information about the Choice Foundation or the StandTall program, visit www.choicefoundation.org.nz

To take part in the StandTall PledgeMe campaign, visit www.pledgem.co.nz/1114

- Ends -

About the Choice Foundation

The mission of the CHOICE Foundation is to enhance the capabilities of children & youth in low decile schools through;

• Positive experiences in education and a range of possible careers & education.

• Removal of perceived barriers that limit choice.

• Expansion of knowledge & skills.

• Giving them greater responsibility and confidence.

• Taking risks and understanding consequences.

• Helping others within their community.

So that they can...

• Gain the education that they deserve.

• Secure the careers they desire

• Become a role model in their community, an asset to NZ Society and ultimately be the best they can be.

The principle focus of the CHOICE Foundation is the delivery, development and management of the StandTall Youth Leadership Programme. The CHOICE Foundation is a registered New Zealand charitable trust with IRD tax exemption status (Charities Commission Registration # CC46006).

About the StandTall program:

StandTall is a lifelong capability enhancement strategy and leadership programme which provides support to intermediate-age children in low decile south schools.

Their goal is to work with the good children who want to work hard to increase their confidence, opportunities and their ability to make the right choices that will enable them to reach their full potential becoming successful adults. StandTall currently works with over 200 children and operates in seven Manukau schools and is looking to expand to Waitakere as soon as resources are available to do so.

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