Givealittle already making a difference

Media Release
Thursday 18 December 2008

Givealittle already making a difference

Givealittle launched earlier this month on a mission to change attitudes and behaviours to charitable giving. Not an enviable task in a recession but in just 14 days the website is making good on its commitment to New Zealand’s charitable and non-profit community and is reinvigorating the giving public.

Earlier today a Givealittle project listed by ChildFund New Zealand gained full funding and will now go ahead thanks to the support of Givealittle members. The project will set up and supply a clean water supply tank for an early childhood centre in Emali, Kenya. The $4,000 project has been funded with contributions from four givers at Givealittle.co.nz.

Laura Patterson ChildFund New Zealand’s Programmes Coordinator recently returned from Kenya and is delighted that this project can now proceed. “I saw young children having to put up with either not enough water or dirty water. Giving these children a safe reliable source of drinking water will have huge benefits for their health and future prospects” said Ms Patterson.

“We are very excited about the opportunity that Givealittle.co.nz offers us, and we are delighted with such a quick response to this project.” said Paul Brown National Director of ChildFund New Zealand.

“As Givealittle.co.nz vigilantly protects the privacy of donors who wish to remain anonymous we cannot divulge the details associated with the four donors but I will say that this great project has been funded by a combination of small and large donations,” comments Givealittle Chief Executive Nathalie Hofsteede.

Another organisation to experience quick runs on the board is Pillars. Pillars provide mentoring and support services to the children of prisoners. The “Promise Children Christmas” project at Givealittle.co.nz provided funding for approximately 40 children’s Christmas gifts. Pillars posted this project to fill a gap in suitable gifts for teenagers, an age group that is often not catered for with donated gifts.

“Givealittle.co.nz provides cost effective national reach for Pillars projects,” said Verna McFelin, Pillars Chief Executive. “Although we do not have access to the givers details I can see that 16 people contributed to brightening Christmas for many young people in the Christchurch area, and that is fantastic.”

After just two weeks Givealittle.co.nz now has nearly 200 organisations and projects listed and some 340 active givers registered with the site.

The ChildFund project can be viewed here: http://www.givealittle.co.nz/org/childfund/project/emaliwatertanks

The Pillars project can be viewed here:
http://www.givealittle.co.nz/org/PILLARS/project/Promisechildrenchristmas

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