The fundraising event on November 15 has raised $49,484 to ensure youngsters who would otherwise go without can experience the simple joy of opening a present this festive season.
Every dollar donated during the 24 hours of generosity has been matched by supporters including The Trusts. That meant if someone gave $50, Visionwest could buy $100 worth of toys to spread the Christmas joy. The money raised will help buy new toys which will be distributed through Visionwest’s Christmas From The Heart to whānau who are doing it tough.
Visionwest fundraising manager Sarah Frayne says she is thrilled with the amount raised which came at a critical time. “At the end of a tough year, and with less than a month until the start of Christmas From The Heart (where we will be providing food to fill empty pantries and fridges for thousands of people), it means we are now in a guaranteed position to also provide thousands of children with a gift.”
A critical part of this success is thanks to the support of The Trusts, Sarah says. “The Trusts’ generosity in matching the donations of a large percentage of our donors has helped inspire many hundreds of people to donate! Thank you.”
Visionwest wants to continue spreading the joy and is calling for donations of new toys. “Giving Day has been so important to us as it gives us a foundation of cash that we can build from to reach our goal of 3,334 children getting to open a gift on Christmas day which is what it’s all about,” she says.
You can go here if you missed out on Giving Day but would still like to donate to support Visionwest's Christmas From The Heart.