StarJam Semi-Finalists in New Zealander of the Year Awards

27th December 2013

Award-winning charity for young people with disabilities is recognised as Semi-Finalists in 2014 New Zealander of the Year Awards

StarJam has capped off an amazing year of highs across all spectrums of the organisation, with the announcement they are semi-finalists in two categories of the 2014 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.

Recently appointed CEO Mary Ansell says. “December 2013 in particular has been an exciting month for StarJam with Jammer –turned- tutor Loren Corbett announced as winner in the TVNZ’s Youth Attitude Awards; closely followed by Renee Maurice also Jammer –turned- tutor winning New Zealand’s Got Talent. The month and year is now well and truly capped off with the announcement of StarJam as a semi-finalist in the Mitre10 Community of the Year category and Julie Bartlett Founder and Patron as a semi-finalist in the Metlifecare Senior New Zealander of the Year category.”

Ansell says “This acknowledgment of StarJam as well as that of our Jammers-turned- tutors is powerful as our young people, known as ‘Jammers’, aspire to be like Loren and Renee and helps cement that having a disability need not hold you back. Being acknowledged for efforts is what StarJam is about”.

Being recognised as a semi- finalist in the Community of the Year Category is an honour and is tribute to the great work that has been done over the last eleven years where StarJam has gone from strength-to-strength now offering singing, dance and instrumental programmes for disabled youth in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.

Julie Bartlett says "It's wonderful to receive this news, along with all the other recent successes, like our Renee Maurice winning NZ's Got Talent. Our young people are living proof of how StarJam has changed their lives and how they have made their mark on the community."

Since its inception more than 1,000 young people have been through the programmes, motivating and inspiring more than 15,000 audience members live and many thousands online.

The Jammers love to perform and their gigs and shows bring so much joy and inspiration to others. StarJam has many unique qualities – its work is social entrepreneurship or you could say it’s a reverse charity; where those normally the recipients of goods and services turn out to be the ones doing the giving.

About StarJam - www.starjam.org
StarJam empowers young people with disabilities and their audiences through performance opportunities nationwide. Within a fun and welcoming environment, our young people, known as ‘Jammers’, experience respect, confidence and empowerment as well as gain new friends, new hope and new purpose; often for the first time. Participation of over 300 Jammers through 30 weekly performance programmes spread throughout Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch in singing, dancing, drumming and guitar, monthly performance programmes, gigs and shows causes positive change in the lives of the Jammers, their families and the wider community.

ENDS

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