Fund-raising events over past 12 months

Index

> Weft's Charity Factory Sale
> Duncan Cotterill Business Lunch
> Casino Royale Ball
> Ballantynes Xmas wrapping
> Weft factory sale
> heART for Children
> Kids Should Have A Ball - Rotary
> St. Margaret's Philanthropic Week
> Goldair Flames support FHT
> Ruia Exhibition & Art Auction
> Harcourts Auction & Allan Pease

Weft's Charity Factory Sale

This annual event was held this year on Nov 10th – 13th. Family Help Trust received 50% of what customers spent during that period. Thanks again to Weft for their kind and generous support.

The Duncan Cotterill Business Lunch

"Confrontational, convivial and very entertaining". That is how the appreciative audience of over 150 people felt about the Hon. Dr Michael Cullen and the Hon. Bill English during their appearance at the recent Duncan Cotterill Lawyers Business Lunch on September 19th, which supported the Family Help Trust.

Rydges Hotel was the perfect central location for this prestigious event and guests arrived early to experience the atmosphere and networking opportunities created by Christchurch's most high profile business people. Pre-lunch drinks were followed by an informed introduction by Elizabeth Chesterman, Deputy Chairperson of the Family Help Trust.

Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Peter Townshend successfully facilitated the afternoon event as Dr Cullen and Mr English responded to questions from the floor. They shared with us their vision for the future under their possible leadership as Finance Minister. Amongst their comments were calls to support the business community and the family through organisations such as the Family Help Trust.

Duncan Cotterills support as naming right sponsor was greatly appreciated and we do hope they will seek to continue the healthy sponsorship relationship they have begun.

Our sincere thanks go out to all speakers and supporters of the event. We raised $10,000 which will see two at-risk children supported for one year by Family Help Trust programmes.

"An excellent luncheon today thank you. Very professionally managed and MC'd, good presentations and questions, and good networking opportunities. Top marks to Duncan Cotterill and thank you to the Family Help Trust."

Casino Royale Ball

The annual charity Ball, held on August 23rd, this year raised money for the Family Help Trust. As in previous years, it was very successful - thanks to all those who helped make it so. The proceeds will help us serve high-risk families in Christchurch, and prevent child abuse. Special thanks to Christchurch Casino who also donated a significant amount of resources to the cause.

The closure of Manchester Street that evening made way for the hundreds of guests dressed in James Bond style, for the Casino Royale theme inside The Civic, which was decorated with all the glitz and glamour to be expected for the stars.

Ballantynes Christmas wrapping donations

There was an overwhelming response to the Xmas wrapping donation scheme run by staff at Ballantynes' Christchurch retail store. Purchasers wanting gift wrapping were encouraged to donate to Family Help Trust. Our grateful thanks to all staff involved during the lead-up to 2007 Christmas.

The total figure received for FHT is yet to be confirmed, but we believe it was the biggest response yet from the local Christchurch community, and clearly demonstrates their concern about reducing our high levels of child maltreatment in New Zealand.

The Weft Knitting Co factory sale

This annual event was held last year from November 21st to 25th, with all profits being donated to charity. Family Help Trust was selected as one of the charities.

heART for Children

The 2007 "heART for Children" Art Exhibition and Auction was held at St Margaret's College Gymnasium on Sunday October 14 at 5.00pm. Tickets cost $20, which included entry, artists catalogue, wine and finger food.

The charity auction featured original works by over 40 emerging and recognised artists, and the standard of exhibits was very high indeed. Thanks very much to the artists who contributed. The auctioneer was Bryan Andrews.

Click here to view some of the exhibits.

Rotary Club Ball - Kids Should Have A Ball!

The Ball, this year themed ICE and DIAMONDS, was held on Saturday 25 August 2007 at the Christchurch Convention Centre. The evening was a black tie affair. Frankie Stevens was the Master of Ceremonies and a three-course meal with fine wines was served. It was a very successful night, and the top auction item donation was $20,000 for 2 tickets on Emirates First class return to Europe.

Family Help Trust and the Champion Trust were beneficiaries of this year's event - traditionally one of the most successful fundraising events on the Christchurch social calendar.

Contact Energy used the occasion to announce its extra $60,000 commitment over two years towards research being undertaken by the Family Help Trust to further establish the effectiveness of its programme.

Philanthropic Week

Philanthropy is alive and well at St. Margaret's College, where a week learning to give has seen funds raised for a local charity and the school's principal lose her job for a day.

The college's philanthropic week ended with an auction on the 10th August. This was a spectacular evening, attended by over 150 guests and wonderfully organised by the students. All items were donated, and in total raised twice as much as the girls had targeted, reaching over $20,000!

The college girls spent most of their school holidays making presentations to city businesses, seeking support and donations for the events of the week. The week began with a mufti day, included addresses from speakers including local philanthropist Lady Diana Isaac and culminated with a charity auction at the school last Friday night.

Family Help Trust pays a huge tribute to the girls who gave up hours of their time for the prevention of child abuse. Special thanks to auctioneer Bryan Andrews and Development Director Deborah James. Read the full press release »

Deborah James and auctioneer Bryan Andrews with the primary organisers - Georgina Borowczyk and Isabelle Manson.

Family Help Trust funding committee members busy sorting the finances after the auction.

Goldair Flames support Family Help Trust

Canterbury Flames fans donated about $1000 to Family Help Trust via a Gold Coin collection at Goldair Flames home games during the 2007 National Bank netball competition. Thanks to current Silver Fern and Goldair (Canterbury) Flames captain Julie Seymour (who with her husband Dallas are ambassadors for the trust) for her endorsement and encouragement of the campaign. Volunteer collectors worked at the Flames' five home games - our sincere thanks to all those who generously helped and donated.

Ruia - Exhibition & Art Auction Featuring Prisoners' Work
May 2007

This was an outstanding success. Held at Christchurch Men's Prison on 4th May, Ruia featured artworks, sculptures and woodcarvings by prisoners in Canterbury Prisons. The auction raised more than $30,000! Some of the pieces sold will be presented on this website in the next few days. The prison was absolutely delighted with the results. 13 prisoner artists attended the event, interacting with the guests. Those attending agreed that the calibre of the work outstanding. Read the press release »

Ruia was taken from a Maori proverb 'Ruia taitea, kia tu ko taikaka anake' which means 'strip away the sapwood until only the heartwood remains'. Prisoners were invited to consider this theme and reflect it in their works.

The Family Help Trust works with the infants and children of high-risk families and many of these families have criminal offending as a feature of their backgrounds. As a result, this project was a natural synergy between Canterbury Prisons and our agency.

We were delighted that prisoners have volunteered in significant numbers to create works specifically for this event. The auction offered the prisoners the opportunity to have their work exhibited and recognised, and to contribute to this organisation. View some of the works here »

Harcourts Charity Auction and Guest Speaker, Allan Pease
April 2007

Family Help Trust was pleased to be associated with Harcourts Grenadier Real Estate's Charity Auction, held at The Aurora Centre, Burnside, on Monday April 30th.

The guest speaker was Allan Pease, acclaimed international body language guru and one of the world's leading communication and relationship experts. He spoke on his latest book, 'Easy Peasey - People Skills for life', including how to make lasting first impressions, how to be a great conversationalist and how to become a 'human magnet'. The evening was well attended, participants had a great time, and Family Help Trust thanks Harcourts for donating the proceeds of around $7000.