Kidscan And Flight Centre Partner

Kidscan And Flight Centre Partner

KidsCan has today announced that thanks to support from the Flight Centre Foundation, five orchards will be planted in schools around the country in 2016, and 625 pairs of shoes and socks will be distributed to children, as a part of KidsCan’s ‘Shoes for Kids’ and ‘Orchards in Schools’ programmes.

The ‘Shoes for Kids’ programme is designed to get disadvantaged Kiwi kids to and through the school gates safely, and importantly help them participate in school activities, sports and trips at an equal level to their peers.

The ‘Orchards in Schools’ programme is KidsCan’s latest initiative and is aimed at helping provide a sustainable solution that teaches young kiwis valuable life skills and gives them access to the freshest and healthiest food at school.

KidsCan CEO and Co-Founder, Julie Chapman, says “KidsCan is absolutely thrilled to be partnering with the Flight Centre Foundation. Their support will enable us to provide hundreds of pairs of shoes and socks to our partner schools to keep little feet warm. The Flight Centre Foundation is also contributing to our ‘Orchards in School’ initiative and will allow us to add five new orchards this year. Planting orchards provides a sustainable source of fruit while giving children a valuable learning opportunity that they can take into adulthood.”

Jodie Burnard, chair of the Flight Centre Foundation, says they are thrilled to be partnering with KidsCan and that the programmes are a fantastic way for Flight Centre staff to give back to local New Zealand communities.

“We’re honoured to be able to partner with KidsCan, this is one of those times where we can work together as a community to take care of our own and it’s wonderful for our people to be able to help make that happen.”

The Flight Centre Foundation took part in their first orchard planting at New Lynn Primary School in West Auckland on May 19th 2016. 16 ‘flighties’ volunteered on the day including managing director David Coombes, chief financial officer Victoria Courtney and Flight Centre Foundation Chair Jodie Burnard. Throughout the day more than 30 fruit trees were planted. Over the next 12 months four more orchards will be planted in South Auckland, New Plymouth, Christchurch and Hastings.

As a part of the KidsCan ‘Shoes for Kids’ programme, on Thursday May 26th ‘flighties’ will be visiting the children of Sutton Park School in Auckland to help distribute shoes and socks to 178 of the 533 children.

Flight Centre NZ Ltd runs a paid programme for employees who want to volunteer their time at events like these.

The Flight Centre Foundation is the heart of the Flight Centre Travel Group’s corporate and social responsibility strategy providing employees with a means to support charities through workplace giving and fundraising initiatives. All staff donations are matched dollar-for-dollar by the company.

ENDS

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