DonateNZ Launched

Press Release 1st February 2006

“Inspired by smiles”

A revolutionary new website designed to help Kiwi’s give back to their community was launched on February 1st 2006. Following in the wake of hugely successful auction sites like Trade Me was never going to be easy, but in DonateNZ.com 21 year old Aucklander Claire Sawyers, has struck a winner.

As Director, Claire put wheels in motion to create DonateNZ.com after becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of resources available to busy Kiwis to support their community in ways other than money. She saw a variety of business and personal items being disposed of when they should be reused, easing the strain on our precious environment.

Where could she and thousands of other Kiwis easily donate time, expertise or surplus goods to someone in need, see the positive difference they make and receive a big thank you smile to boot! The answer was www.donatenz.com, an innovative technological solution for the problem of a modern, fragmented and often wasteful community. DonateNZ was established with three main objectives in mind: 1. Giving a hand up not a hand out, to today’s schools and tomorrows leaders 2. Promoting the “Three R’s” – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 3. Re-connect and expand schools traditional support base – the community

The site allows users to list and donate time and goods to their chosen organisation or area. Members are free to search and accept donations as needs arise and once accepted, fulfillment is arranged with the donor.

Personal contact allows users to see real smiles, positive results and fosters healthy interest in the community. Events and Community News and a “Warm Fuzzies” section where recipients post thank you notes and pictures, enable a unified community hub and an active movement towards connecting with New Zealand’s future.

With the aim of delivering help where it is most needed, Donate NZ is being launched to all schools and early childhood centres nationally who power the site through an annual membership fee. Non-profit organisations and community groups will be phased in within a year.

The company is active in all facets of the process, providing ongoing hands on support to both donors and recipients.

It is an unfortunate fact that currently, schools receive many donations that they simply do not want but cannot refuse for fear of alienating their community support base. DonateNZ removes this issue, giving them the ability to ask for what they need with a “Wish List” section and accept only what they can put to good use.

The media launch on 8th February 2005, where Claire attended school at Buckland Primary in Pukekohe, marks the beginning of an exciting new phase in community co-operation. DonateNZ.com breaks the mould, harnessing technology so that New Zealanders have the power to help others at their fingertips.

ENDS

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