Blind Week results so far

Blind Week results so far

The preliminary Blind Week 2002 results are proof that the bright orange and black arrow hats and vests made it hard for people to miss our collectors on the streets.

Volunteers sporting the fluorescent orange collector clothing took to the pavements and knocked on doors from the 29 October – 4 November collecting for the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind (RNZFB) and has so far raised $1,000,140.

“Yet again we’ve had a fantastic response from the New Zealand public,” says Jeanette Manson, Divisional Manager, Fundraising

“We have surpassed our target of $1 million and we still have more donations to process, we’re really pleased with how things are going.”

Ms Manson attributes the appeals success to the ongoing help of our volunteers and the vivid attire they wore during Blind Week.

“It really was hard to miss us this year which was a good thing, because quite simply we can’t afford for the public not to see us,” says Ms Manson.

Ms Manson said around 11,500 people gave up their time to either collect door-to-door or in the street appeal.

“Volunteers play a vital role during Blind Week and we would really like to thank every single volunteer and particularly service clubs like the Lions and Rotary, church and community groups and schools for getting out there and helping us again with our cause,” says Ms Manson.

Collectively the doorknock and street appeal has raised $604, 385 so far:

Auckland/ Northland $126,092 Waikato $47, 562 Bay of Plenty/ Coromandel $53, 317 Hawkes Bay $21, 939 Taranaki /Manawatu /Wellington $104, 968 Nelson/Marlborough $32, 569 Canterbury/Westcoast $93,747 Otago/Southland $119, 876 National $4, 315

The Foundation has also received $298,039 to date from the Blind Week direct mail and $97,716 from the household mail with more to come. “It’s great to see New Zealander’s reach into their pockets and support us each year,” says Ms Manson, “and with more donations to be lodged and processed we will have a final result in December.”

The money raised for the Blind Week appeal will help provide essential services and support for thousands of blind and sight-impaired New Zealanders.

With limited government support the RNZFB has to raise at least $14 million from donations, sponsorships and bequests to cover the more than $18 million it costs to run these essential services each year.

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