The Body Shop challenges companies to support victims of tsunami

Employees of The Body Shop have been invited to donate an hour of their wages to the Oxfam Tsunami Emergency Appeal and the company will match the donations dollar for dollar.

Said Barrie Thomas, Director of The Body Shop: “I personally challenge businesses across New Zealand to do the same as The Body Shop. Just imagine the funds which could be raised by a large company. They should take on this challenge.

“Since the day of this catastrophe I have been overwhelmed by the calls I have received from staff wanting to do more to assist with the appeal efforts, “ said Thomas. “One idea in particular struck a chord: for staff to donate one hour of their wages to the Oxfam Tsunami Appeal. We have run a similar initiative some time ago for another charity with outstanding results and I am confident that this request will be welcomed with open arms. In response to the generosity of my staff, The Body Shop New Zealand will match dollar for dollar the amount donated by The Body Shop staff through their wages.”

In addition to this initiative, The Body Shop has collection tins for public donations in all 23 stores, raising $2300 on the first day. The shops are also selling Remembrance Candles for $2, with all proceeds going to Oxfam.

Oxfam have been overwhelmed by the public and corporate response to their appeal. In just over a week Oxfam has raised $750,000. Oxfam are proud of their ability to keep administrative costs to a minimum with 95 percent of money raised from street collections going directly to the appeal.

“We are enormously grateful for the generosity shown by New Zealanders,” said Barry Coates, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand. ”This latest initiative from The Body Shop is a creative way for both individual and corporate responsibility, a way for employers and employees to come together and provide much needed funds for the Oxfam Tsunami Appeal.”

Oxfam is working to bring help to more than 320,000 of the most needy people in the disaster area – particularly to Aceh in Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka. The money raised will go towards immediate relief work and importantly, towards the reconstruction work needed in the future.

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