Team Ryman raises $37,230 for Typhoon relief

Media release – December 4 2013

Team Ryman raises $37,230 for Typhoon relief

The team at Ryman Healthcare has been given a big thank you from children’s charity UNICEF NZ after raising more than $37,000 for the Typhoon Haiyan relief effort.

The Super Typhoon struck the Philippines on November 8, killing at least 5600 people and causing widespread destruction. An estimated 14.4 million people were affected, including6m children.

Ryman Healthcare staff responded with a series of fundraisers that raised $18,615 for UNICEF NZ. Managing director Simon Challies said the company would match the staff effort dollar for dollar and a total of $37,230 was raised.

When Typhoon Haiyan struck on November 8 Pier Tubio, a registered nurse at Malvina Major, had an anxious wait to hear that her relatives at home in the Philippines were okay.

Her husband’s family was in the area hit by the typhoon, and their homes were damaged. But luckily no member of the couple’s extended family was harmed.

Malvina Major staff raised funds from a barbecue and a raffle and she was also involved in fundraising at a local school and her church.

Pier said the money would go a long way to help, and she was proud of Ryman’s efforts.
“It’s heaps of money. It’s really appreciated, I know that.’’

UNICEF NZ Executive Director Dennis McKinlay said the money would go towards providing water and sanitation equipment and other much needed supplies and support in the Philippines disaster area.

“This is a fantastic effort from the team at Ryman Healthcare. They have raiseda very substantial amount and it will havea big impact on what we’re doing there, particularly in ensuring people have clean water and adequate sanitation

“It’s greatthat the company matched staff efforts – our challenge to New Zealand corporates in the early days of the emergency was to donate to reflect the sentiment of New Zealanders and Ryman has done this.’’

UNICEF concentrates on the needs of children and families in emergencies. As well as water and sanitation,the money donated would be directed towards preventing malnutrition, immunizing children and also trying to get kids back to school as soon as possible to ‘normalise’ their lives again.

UNICEF has landed its first ‘school in a box’ kits into hardest hit areas like Tacloban. The kitsprovide paper and pens, reading and maths materials as well as other learning tools to keep 15,000 children aged six and up in lessons for three months.

ENDS

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