Cocksy Helps Ford and Variety to Help NZ Children

Cocksy the Builder Helps Ford and Variety to Help New Zealand's Children

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Ford Rat Pack members Cocksy the builder and Ewen Gilmour join the students of the Parekura Centre at the official opening. Also pictured is Simon Dallow.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COCKSY THE BUILDER HELPS FORD AND VARIETY TO HELP NEW ZEALAND'S CHILDREN

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 18 September 2006

John 'Cocksy' Cocks the builder joined forces with Ford New Zealand and Variety – The Children's Charity to 'makeover' the Parekura Centre, a special needs unit adjacent to Henderson High School.

The refurbished centre was unveiled to the delighted students on Friday 8 September on the first day of the Variety Mini-Bash, a weekend 'take' on the annual Variety Bash - a crazy convoy of vehicles and personalities that travels the countryside raising and distributing funds to disadvantaged children.

"To us, this makeover project is exactly what the spirit of the Bash is all about – helping Variety to help New Zealand's children," said Clare Ponton, member of the Ford 'Rat Pack' Bash team and Media Relations Manager of Ford New Zealand.

"Ford New Zealand has been the 'driving force' behind Variety since its inception in New Zealand in 1989 and we were pleased to be able to sponsor a project such as this. Staff from Ford's head office also participated as part of Ford New Zealand's corporate citizenship program.

"Ford is fortunate enough to have an association with Cocksy the builder who generously donated his time and expertise to this project."

The Parekura Centre caters for 26 intellectually disabled children ranging from 13- 21 years of age.

Bash Operations Manager, Rebecca Manners said that the makeover provided a much-needed facelift for the centre.

“Cocksy's plans for the refurbishment included painting inside and out, a new bathroom, creating an entry area with a walkway and slanted roof, and refurbishing the kitchen. The project scope also included general joinery work including new windows and a sliding door to the deck, laying new carpet throughout and fitting out new curtains. A new garden was also to be created featuring a herb garden for the students to work in and enjoy."

Bashers, sponsors, and the local community got behind the Parekura Centre upgrade with support for materials and services from Adept Flooring, Aqualines Gib Board, Atlas Concrete, Buteline, Carter Holt Harvey Building Products, Chroma, Craftwood Kitchens, CS Cavity Sliders, Eric and Carter Electrical, Gold Smith Developments, Hale Partitioning, Hirepool, Jacobsens Creative Surfaces, Johnson Rugs, Luke Glamuzina Contractors, Marley, McDonald Industries, Methvens, Onehunga Carpets & Rugs, Plumbing World, Rheem, RNZAF, Stevensons, Subway, The Breeze, Tribro, Waitakere City Council, Wattyl and Winstones.

Staff from Ford New Zealand's Head Office also volunteered their time.

The total amount of funds raised during this year's Mini Bash was $35,275 and a total of $82,375 was distributed in the form of grants to assist Kiwi children in need.

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Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With nearly 325,000 employees and 110 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.

ENDS

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