$150,000 for volunteers, further $50,000 for quake

Media Release

BP pledges $150,000 to help the nation’s volunteers

– and a further $50,000 to help the Christchurch earthquake clean up.

BP New Zealand has again launched ‘BP Vouchers for Volunteers’, offering over $150,000 worth of BP vouchers to the thousands of volunteers who donate their time and energy to helping others.

This year, in recognition of the remarkable effort of volunteers in earthquake-struck Canterbury, BP NZ Managing Director Mike McGuinness has pledged a further $50,000 especially for the region to thank and support volunteers there.

From today, volunteers from all over the country are invited to apply for BP Vouchers for Volunteers, which offers a helping hand to a diverse range of organisations from neighbourhood patrol groups to volunteer fire brigades, meals on wheels services to environmental groups, victim support groups to hospices and health organisations.

“Over the past four years, BP has been able to help more than 1400 organisations,” said Mr McGuinness. “It is an initiative BP is very proud of.”

“Every day, thousands of volunteers throughout the country give up their spare time to help others who are less fortunate. These volunteers are an essential part of our society and this is BP’s way of saying thank you.”

2010 is the fifth year BP has run the scheme. This year, it is donating more than ever before, pledging over $150,000 worth of fuel to volunteers around the country, and a further $50,000 to the Canterbury region.

In previous years, donations to organisations have ranged from $100 to over $5,000.

“We have been overwhelmed with the number of applications received each year since we started this programme and expect this year to be no different,” Mr McGuinness said.

Last year, BP received over 1,500 applications from around the country and 411 were successful. “The number of people giving so generously of their own time and money for all of these amazing organisations was overwhelming.”

“BP New Zealand recognises that the current economic environment has had a huge impact on volunteers who use vehicles to do their work. Through donating thousands of dollars worth of fuel vouchers to volunteer organisations, we can do our bit to help out,” he said.

Robert Fowler, chairman of Community Patrols of New Zealand, said BP’s vouchers were a huge help. “Community organisations really do operate on the skin of their teeth sometimes. For organisations like ours, where our volunteers do a lot of driving as they patrol their communities, the vouchers make a huge difference and enable us to do that work.”

Any registered charities or community organisations that rely on voluntary assistance and use vehicles are eligible to apply. For an application form and full eligibility criteria please visit www.bp.co.nz. Applications close 25 October 2010.

Successful applicants will be advised by email and on our website (www.bp.co.nz) by 5 November 2010.

ENDS

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