Campbell Live Viewers Raise $127,000 for Unicef Gaza Appeal

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Tuesday 29 July, 2014

Campbell Live Viewers Raise $127,000 for Unicef Gaza Appeal

Campbell Live viewers, in conjunction with UNICEF, have raised more than $127,000 to assist children affected by the conflict in Gaza. The total was announced tonight on the show with a message of thanks to New Zealanders from UNICEF for their support.

UNICEF has confirmed the funds will be used for medical assistance, vaccinations and emergency food supplies for the children in Gaza.

The overwhelming response follows a campaign that began last Friday, with Kiwis texting and donating online. Over the past four days, more than 33,000 individual donations have been received from all around New Zealand.

“We’re continually amazed by the generosity and kindness of our audience,” says host John Campbell.

“From Lunchbox Day and the fight against child poverty, to the Philippines typhoon relief, and most recently UNICEF’s critical work in Gaza, and closer to home helping the Lawton family into their new house.

“There’s no great fanfare, just our stories and our viewers responding to them. In April, the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand gave us their 2014 Award for Philanthropy. But it wasn’t just for us, it was for our viewers.”

On Monday night, Campbell Live unveiled Te Aroha couple Tobi Lawton and Sarah Lee’s new home. The first-home buyers and parents of three young children faced bankruptcy when their property was deemed uninhabitable due to one of the worst termite infestations seen in New Zealand.

After their story was told on Campbell Live, $201,000 was donated by the public. Thanks to those donations and GJ Gardner Homes, the couple received the keys to their brand new home live on-air last night.

To make an automatic $3 donation to the UNICEF Gaza Appeal text HELP to 2923.

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Campbell Live, weeknights at 7pm on TV3.

Both stories are available for viewing at www.3News.co.nz/CampbellLive

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