For immediate release
5 May 2016
Queenstown Artist Raises Over $7000 for NZ Charity
A Queenstown artist’s innovative fundraiser has resulted in a generous $7,140 donation to New Zealand charity Orphans
Aid International.
Copper artist Rhys Coker had been thinking about ways to support the Queenstown-based charity for a while when he came
up with his ‘Art for Aid - fundraiser for orphans’ idea.
“I really wanted to help such a worthy cause and this was my way of giving something back.
“Then I came up with a simple fundraising concept, where a donation to Orphans Aid International would put people in the
draw to win three of my copper and resin artworks,” says Mr Coker.
A total of 714 tickets were sold to people from around the globe between December and April through Mr Coker’s market
stalls in Queenstown and Wanaka, and through Orphans Aid International’s Queenstown and Dunedin op-shops.
The winning ticket, which was drawn at the Queenstown Police Station on Monday 2 May, went to Linda from Auckland.
“Linda was on a girl’s getaway weekend in Queenstown and says she is thrilled to have won the prize,” says Orphans Aid
International CEO Sue van Schreven.
“Orphans Aid International want to say a huge thank you to Rhys for this fantastic fundraising and awareness-raising
effort. It is wonderful to have such a dedicated and gifted supporter as Rhys.”
ENDS