Media release
Sunday 1st December 2013

The Warehouse Group and suppliers fund Variety’s ‘Technology for Learning’

Mark Powell, Lorraine Taylor, Stephen Tindall

One of the country’s biggest charity events of the year, The Warehouse Group (TW Group) Supplier Awards and Charity Dinner, raised $590,000 for Variety – The Children’s Charity, at a black tie event held on Friday 29 November.

The Dinner is an annual event to raise money for a selected national charity and proceeds from all ticket sales and fundraising throughout the evening went to Variety’s ‘Technology for Learning’ programme, which seeks to ensure children from low-decile primary schools have access to information and communications technology.

In celebration of its 22nd anniversary, the Suppliers Dinner was given a fundraising boost to include suppliers across TW Group for the first time, including: The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming and Multichannel Brands (Red Alert, Torpedo7, 1-Day, ilovebeauty, pet.co.nz and No.1 Fitness).

The star-studded event held at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre was attended by around 1,000 guests, including well-known New Zealanders Dean and Mandy Barker and Sir George and Lady Gail Fistonich and was hosted by Simon Dallow and Mark Wright.

Chief executive of TW Group Mark Powell said the group was proud to have partnered with Variety – the Children’s Charity, since 2001 and was pleased the evening was once again such a success.

“It is thanks to the generosity of our customers, suppliers and guests as well as our team that makes this event possible,” said Mark.

“The charity event is a fantastic opportunity to bring our suppliers together and acknowledge their contribution and support over the past year. I’d like to congratulate all of tonight’s winners and in particular, Sony Group who won this year’s Supreme Award in recognition of their consistently outstanding delivery of value to the business.”

Over the last few years, The Warehouse has facilitated raising almost $2.8 million for Variety, which includes being the recipient of fundraising from its 2009 and 2012 Suppliers’ Dinners.

Mr Powell said the company sought to identify a need that was not being met elsewhere, and ‘Technology for Learning’ was a valuable contribution that fits well with TW Group’s objectives of enhancing the lives of families and children.

Variety CEO Lorraine Taylor, said: “Funds raised from the event will make an enormous difference to New Zealand families in need by enhancing children’s chance of educational success through the use of technology.

“Variety will work collaboratively with other organisations, including the Ministry of Education to provide digital support to assist the more than 50,000 children attending decile one schools nationwide”, she said.

In addition to this year’s Supplier Awards and Charity Dinner, The Warehouse has also supported Variety through a month long in-store scratch ‘n win campaign and is currently merchandising sales of Christmas cards.

Ends

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