Shoppers embrace Christmas spirit

News release coin – 1
January 17, 2007

Shoppers embrace Christmas spirit

Generous New Zealand shoppers have raised more than $32,000 for charity at Christmas.

Even as the yuletide rush was underway, many shoppers at Westfield Shopping Centres nation-wide who chose to have their Christmas gifts wrapped took the time to make a gold coin donation to selected charities as payment.

Christmas gift wrapping is a free service at Westfield New Zealand centres but for the second year shoppers were offered the option of making a donation in return for the service.

Most generous were Westfield Manukau City Centre shoppers who raised nearly $7,000 for the South Auckland Health Foundation for a new assessment and birthing unit at Middlemore Hospital.

Westfield WestCity shoppers were a close second out of 10 centres participating. They contributed nearly $6,500 for the West Auckland Hospice.

Westfield New Zealand national marketing and communications manager Linda Trainer acknowledges the generous support of local communities.

“To me it confirms the Christmas spirit is alive and well right throughout the country. Kiwi shoppers have certainly shown their generosity once again.

“As keen supporters of the communities we operate in, we are delighted to be able to provide the venue for this fund raising effort.”

The service operated in December from the 13th until Christmas Eve and the totals raised in each centre were:

- Two Double Seven, Newmarket, Auckland: $1,150 for Remuera Lions for the Kids Foundation.

- Westfield Glenfield, North Shore, Auckland: $1,483.90 for Target Road School Hall Project.

- Westfield Shore City, North Shore, Auckland: $2,425.20 for Lions of Takapuna for Women’s Refuge.

- Westfield WestCity, Massey, Auckland: $6,463.05 for West Auckland Hospice.

- Westfield St Lukes, Balmoral, Auckland: $4,942.00 for Owairaka-Waikowhai Lions Club for Camp Quality.

- Westfield Manukau City, South Auckland: $6,969.80 for South Auckland Health Foundation for a new assessment and birthing unit at Middlemore Hospital.

- Westfield Pakuranga, East Auckland: $3,235 for Pakuranga Health Camp for a children’s reflective garden.

- Westfield Downtown, Auckland: $1316.20 for Auckland City Mission.

- Westfield Chartwell, Hamilton: $4,305.30 for Christmas gifts for needy children.

- Westfield Queensgate, Lower Hutt: $2,870.60 for Lower Hutt Host Lions Club for Te Omanga Hospice.

- Westfield Riccarton, Christchurch: $1,640.70 for Canterbury Plunket.

In the two years Westfield has been hosting the Christmas wrapping fundraising programme Kiwi shoppers have raised $55,000 for New Zealand charities.

ENDS

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