NEWS RELEASE
Outrunning the Recession for Charity
Auckland 20 March 2009 – Twenty-eight dedicated Crowne Plaza Auckland employees pounded the pavement in the annual HSBC
Round the Bays fun run all for the fantastic cause of three local charities.
“We’ve always played an active role in our community,” says Brendon Meppem, Crowne Plaza Auckland General Manager. “And
now, more than ever, we’re keen to show our support for the local area. Having a large number of staff at the fun run
really boosted our spirits in these hard times, as well as raising funds for worthy causes.”
The 8.4 km run began just a few blocks from the Crowne Plaza’s central location above the Atrium on Elliott. Dressed in
the traditional hospitality colours of black pants and white tops, the team cut a dash through the Auckland streets to
end the event at St Heliers Bay.
Mr Meppem, who came first out of all Crowne Plaza Auckland employees with a time of 46:09:00, says “the staff really
enjoy participating in this fun run each year, whether it is to beat their previous best time or as an opportunity to
walk around our fantastic harbour foreshore and catch up with colleagues over a casual bbq at the end of the event.”
Crowne Plaza Auckland plan to enter an even bigger team in 2010.
Charities to benefit from Crowne Plaza’s efforts are:
Fairfax First Books
Fairfax First Books is a charity established by Fairfax Media in 2006 to improve the reading levels of under five year
olds in disadvantaged communities and promote reading within their families.
• The Gifted Kids Programme
The Gifted Kids Programme was co-founded by Christine Fernyhough and Craig Anderson in September 2000 to provide a day a
week programme of excellence in gifted education, mainly for children from low-income families. GKP now has eight one
day units catering for over 550 children from more than 130 contributing schools throughout the North Island.
• Hearing House
The Hearing House is a charity for deaf children and their families, which aims to enable deaf or hearing impaired
children to listen and speak. The overall goal is to give deaf children the ability to fulfil their potential and live
an independent life in a hearing and speaking world.
ENDS