Celebrating 25 Years of Scoop
Fresh Future Raises $75,000 For Waikato Kids
media information
For immediate release
4 November 2009
Fresh Future Raises $75,000 For Waikato Kids
Children's areas at Waikato Hospital are set for a spruce-up after Progressive Enterprises handed over a $75,000 cheque today, marking the end of the 2009 Fresh Future appeal.
Health Waikato chief operating officer Jan Adams said the money would go towards improving the inpatient environments for children.
"Coming to hospital is never nice for anyone but we'll be spending this money on making it a little better for children.
"In previous years we've put the funding to good use and purchased a range of equipment but what we really want to do this year is look at how the kids would want to spend this money," she said.
Mrs Adams said they would be looking at things like TVs, DVD players, and new furniture for the rooms and new carpet for the wards depending on how far the money can stretch.
Waikato DHB chief executive Craig Climo accepted the cheque on behalf of the DHB's provider arm Health Waikato and expressed his gratitude to Progressive Enterprises staff for all the effort they put in.
"After three years it is great to see that you are still getting such amazing results with this appeal.
"That is great testimony to Progressive Enterprises and all its staff and customers for their dedication to the cause and it's something that we are very grateful for," he said.
Fundraising activities this year included a knit-a-thon, walk around the lake, head shaving, sausage sizzles, raffles, face painting and many other activities.
Michelle Hamilton and Darren Brash from Progressive Enterprises also presented the hospital with 3000 knitted items from the national knit-a-thon of which Foodtown Chartwell came second for contributing more than 1000 knitted items.
Waikato Hospital is one of 10 hospitals throughout New Zealand to benefit from the appeal.
Kidz First Hospital received $200,000 from the appeal last week which will go toward the National Burns Centre that serves all of NZ.
Staff and customers of Foodtown, Woolworths, Countdown, SuperValue, Fresh Choice and Dick Smith Electronics stores nationwide raised more than $900,000 after the appeal's launch in August.
Peter Smith, managing director of Progressive Enterprises said the appeal is local fundraising at its best.
"Literally, thousands of our staff and those at DHBs, and hundreds of thousands of our customers contributed to this success.
"We're delighted to be able to support kids in hospital, their families and our amazing medical professionals," Mr Smith said.
Since starting in 2007, the appeal has now raised $3 million, with $410,000 going to Waikato.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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