BNI and Hospice New Zealand sign three-year partnership deal

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BNI New Zealand and Hospice New Zealand sign three-year partnership deal

Organisations renew their long-standing relationship to mutually
benefit the community

AUCKLAND, Wednesday 24th July, 2013 – BNI (Business Network International) New Zealand and Hospice New Zealand have re-signed a partnership agreement that runs till 31 December 2015. The new agreement cements what has been an extremely successful seven year relationship.

The longstanding partnership has two main goals. Firstly, to create a partnership between each hospice and BNI chapter throughout the country, involving fundraising and awareness activities. Secondly, at a national level to provide a professional development opportunity for all hospice staff through the BNI Palliative Care Scholarship Programme.

BNI first started working with Hospice in 2005 and has raised over $650,000 to date, with $130,000 raised by BNI groups nationally in 2012.

According to Graham Southwell, National Director of BNI NZ, there is a perfect synergy between the two organisations by having shared common values. “BNI’s philosophy is about ‘giver’s gain’ and growing successful businesses within the community they operate in. Hospice is about supporting communities in which people live. Doing good, is good for business. Both of our organisations share values of people connecting with people and developing relationships based on trust,” says Southwell.

Hospice New Zealand’s CEO Mary Schumacher is excited about the partnership and feels the on-going close relationship is enormously beneficial for both organisations. “The commitment of BNI at a national and chapter level is outstanding. They absolutely demonstrate the values of ‘givers gain” through the association developed over many years with hospice.

“The BNI Palliative Care Scholarships provide an important and unique opportunity for the hospice workforce to continue in their professional development. Over the last five years 62 people working in a variety of roles in palliative care, have been funded to undertake further study or training. The paths of study have ranged from PHD thesis work, to post graduate and masters level studies, as well as day courses at a tertiary level.”

Southwell himself volunteers as a counsellor at Dove House – the hospice service in Glendowie, Auckland two days a week. It’s his belief, that partnerships like the one between BNI and Hospice need to become more common in New Zealand. “Businesses and charities must create productive partnerships, because a lack of strategic relationships between the two sectors could mean both are worse off – and the community as a whole suffers. We’re an example of how mutually beneficial collaboration can occur,” says Southwell.

About BNI
BNI is New Zealand’s largest structured business networking organisation for small to medium businesses, with over 2,600 members. Every week, business owners across the country meet to build sustainable relationships with other businesses, develop new networks and create local connections. BNI’s underlying philosophy is ‘Givers Gain’, an idea premised on a structured system of referrals and reciprocity. All parties involved in BNI benefit in creating new business opportunities based on trust, shared successes and vibrant communities. www.bni.co.nz

About Hospice NZ & Hospice
Hospice is a philosophy of care, not a building – most people are cared for in the community. As an organisation it is firmly grounded in the community, with over 13,000 people volunteering over 840,000 hours of their time for hospice during 2012.

The concept of care encompasses the whole person, not just their physical needs but also their emotional, spiritual, and social needs too. This care extends beyond the person who is unwell to include their family, whanau; support is available both before and after a death. Irrespective of where a person lives, this philosophy of care does not change and everything provided is free of charge.

As an essential health service provider, hospices receive the majority of funding from Government; financial support from the community is essential to meet the shortfall – in 2013 that total is around $35M nationally. www.hospice.org.nz

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