Ronald McDonald House South Island Overwhelmed

25 August 2005

Ronald McDonald House South Island Overwhelmed with Celebrity Supporter for Fundraiser

Some of New Zealand’s most successful names in entertainment and sports have generously made time in their busy international schedules to support Ronald McDonald House South Island in what is believed to be the largest fundraiser ever to be organised across the whole of the South Island.

Officially launched in late April 2005, the fundraising event called the Harcourts House Party is a massive auction and variety show being held at the Aurora Centre in Christchurch Sunday 11 September 2005 aimed at raising around half a million dollars for Ronald McDonald House South Island which supports South Island families with seriously ill children.

The Harcourts House Party is a four-hour long ‘telethon-style’ live telecast on 11 September on CTV and Southland TV, and available on Sky Digital channel 90, with multiple websites and radio stations including Newstalk ZB and Classic Hits generously taking the coverage Island-wide.

A number of professional popular entertainers and celebrities have been confirmed for the show which will be hosted by Jason Gunn, most recently host of the huge television hit, ‘Dancing with the Stars’. Harcourts House Party entertainers include Ray Columbus, Yulia, Chris Cairns, Mark Hadlow, John Grenell, Olly Ohlsson, McPhail & Gadsby, and many more.

Others keenly supporting the party but unable to make it on the day such as Boh Runga, award winning Scribe and Aaron Mauger, among others, are filming special messages of support which will be shown.

Throughout the Harcourts House Party, a number of key donated items will be auctioned. Along with their local Rotary Clubs, Harcourts’ 42 South Island offices have enthusiastically worked with their local business communities to donate quality goods and items to auction for the fundraiser.

The ultimate auction item is the new four bedroom Harcourts Horncastle Home for Ronald McDonald House, especially constructed in recent weeks by Horncastle Homes in their Gilberthorpes subdivision, Christchurch and fully furnished with the help of a number of local businesses.

Harcourts South Island Business Development Manager, Jim Davis said, “We have been thrilled with not only the enthusiastic support from the Horncastle Homes team, but the generosity of all the contractors involved.” The Harcourts Horncastle Home is open to view weekdays 1-4pm and weekends 1-3pm until the auction and has already enjoyed great public interest. [Note: a full list of contractors is available at the end of this release]

The other over 100 donated auction items will be available on the Trade-Me website (www.trademe.co.nz) from 4 September. [Note: a full list of items is at the end of this release]

ENDS

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