Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) Media Release
26 October 2007
Rain or shine, Blind Week collectors hit the streets on Friday!
Whatever the weather this weekend, Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) volunteer collectors will hit the
streets from Friday to Sunday (26-28 October), aiming to raise over $1 million for Blind Week 2007.
Even if the forecast is not bright, the volunteers will be. They'll be donning fluorescent orange vests to ensure
they're easy to spot.
This year's "See the Difference You Make" campaign invites donors to see the huge impact their generosity has had on the
RNZFB's 11,700 members.
Dianne Armstrong, Head of Regional Fundraising, says, "This year's campaign is really positive, showing people exactly
how their donations are helping Foundation members to lead more independent lives."
"Feedback so far shows that the campaign is being extremely well received and we hope that this will translate into full
collection buckets!"
Donors who don't want to brave the weather can give over the phone or online. They can donate $3 by texting BLIND to
469. To donate $20 they can call 0900 4BLIND (0900 4 25463). For online donations people can visit www.blindweek.org.nz.
Blind Week donations help ensure the Foundation can continue to give blind, deafblind and vision-impaired New Zealanders
the essential support they need. RNZFB services include: training so that members can get around safely and manage
everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning, Talking Books, adaptive technology training, job placement, counseling, guide
dogs, advocacy and much more.
Just one-third of the RNZFB's $22m annual operating budget comes from government sources. The Foundation relies on
public donation.
Ends