MEDIA RELEASE: Monday 21 December, 2015, Palmerston North
Last week Palmerston North chapters of Business Networking organisation BNI (Palmerston North, Feilding and Heartland) presented a cheque to Arohanui Hospice for the funds raised at their recent successful fundraiser. The theme was Black Friday and the main event was a casino with a number of auctions going on during the evening. In total they raised $18,000, which is an incredible result that underlines the strong relationship that exists between BNI NZ and Hospice New Zealand.
At a glance
Recently the Manawatu business groups of BNI (Palmerston North, Feilding and Heartland) NZ held fundraiser for Arohanui Hospice.
The theme was Black Friday and the main event was a casino with a number of auctions going on during the evening.
In total they raised over $18,000.
The money raised was presented on Wednesday 16th to hospice at a special big breakfast event.
Louise Curtis, Director Strategy & Operations for Arohanui Hospice, says that the Hospice has regular interaction with BNI business groups in the Manawatu region. “We do a lot with the Palmerston North groups,” Louise says. “They are a huge network of many businesses so it’s an immensely valuable relationship for us. Members from BNI have come to hospice to see what we do here and we go to visit them at weekly meetings from time to time.”
Louise was in attendance at the Black Friday casino night and says it was an incredible event. “There was a fantastic atmosphere, it was vibrant and a lot of fun,” she says. “The thing about these events is that because we have a longstanding ongoing relationship with BNI we know a lot of people at the fundraisers. So it’s like catching up with family – BNI have become whanau to all of us at hospice.”
The event was a little bit outside of the box according to Louise and a highlight was one of the BNI members shaving his head to raise $500 on the night. “There was a great energy in the room and the items donated for auction were incredible,” she says. These included two rugby jerseys; one framed, fully signed World Cup All Black Jersey from Tracy Stafford at Harrisons Carpet framed by Keith, Art of Framing and an All Black Jersey signed by Richie McCaw from Glenn Coles at Westpac Bank.
According to Latham Lockwood, BNI Director Consultant for the Manawatu/Wanganui region, those donating to the auctions and bidding on the lots were very generous. “The reason we raised such a significant amount was all down to the generosity of BNI members and guests at the event. The items up for auction ranged from a case (6 bottles) of 2013 Alluviale Red Wine from BNI Palmerston North Members with the Village Wine Trader to a Wellington weekend getaway (2 nights at the Intercontinental, valet parking, breakfast and a $200 voucher to the Dockside Restaurant) from Latham Lockwood, Bayleys and Steve Lange, Dockside.”
Latham says they had previously run a casino night a few years ago and it was very successful so they decided to put it on again. “Everyone seemed to really enjoy it,” he says. “The money raised was presented to the hospice last week at a special big breakfast event where also BNI Director Consultant Niki Gunning, who was instrumental in helping to organise the evening, was farewelled.”
About BNI
BNI New Zealand, established in 1999, is the country’s largest structured business networking organisation for small to medium businesses. With over 2,600 members and 120 groups around the country, for 2015 they are on track to mark $100m in business.
As a business community, BNI helps create business opportunities through a structured system of referrals and reciprocity, based on trust and giving. Business owners from all types of industries (only one trade representative per group) meet weekly. They build sustainable relationships with other businesses, develop new networks and take BNI’s underlying philosophy of ‘Givers Gain’ to grow their businesses. www.bni.co.nz
Media contacts
Nimita Morarji, Serum, 021 950 058, Nimita@serum.co.nz
Latham Lockwood, BNI Director Consultant – Manawatu/Wanganui, 0274746202, latham.lockwood@bayleys.co.nz
