Strong growth in Hawkes Bay Business Group leads to $2500 donation to support Cranford Hospice

SUMMARY
• Tuesday 21st July, business group BNI Wine Country in Hawkes Bay presented $2500 to Helen Blaxland, General Manager of Cranford Hospice.
• The group of 42 businesses has experienced tremendous growth this year, enabling them to increase their donations to this vital local charity.

• Helen spoke about BNI and Hospice’s shared values and ideals of people connecting with people and developing relationships based on trust.

• BNI Wine Country hopes to finalise a million dollars in business between members in 2015 and are looking to make a second donation to Cranford before Christmas.

Hastings – Tuesday 21st July– Today business group BNI Wine Country in Hawke’s Bay made a cash presentation of $2500 to Helen Blaxland, General Manager of Cranford Hospice. The business group has experienced tremendous growth this year, which has enabled them to increase their donations to this vital local charity that is operating in the same community as their businesses.

President for BNI Wine Country Terri Kayed and Owner of TK:DESIGN, notes that the business group has a strong and longstanding relationship with Cranford Hospice. “In the past we have raised money for hospice with special events such as the Big Breakfast and the Street Appeal, “Terri notes. “This $2500 donation is made up of members’ contributions collected each week at our networking meetings.”

Terri says their group now consists of 42 businesses and the growth in membership this year has led to this significant donation for the Hospice. “We have experienced a surge also in completed business this year,” Terri says. “We hope to finalise just under a million dollars in business between members in 2015 and are looking to make a second donation to Cranford Hospice before Christmas.”

Helen Blaxland, General Manager for Cranford Hospice, spoke at the morning meeting where the donation was presented. “BNI and Hospice have a relationship going back over ten years at a national and local level,” Helen says. “Dying as well as being a health issue is a grassroots community issue. Hospice and BNI New Zealand have shared values of people connecting with people and developing relationships based on trust so as to support our communities.”

Helen says BNI's philosophy is about 'Givers Gain' and growing successful businesses within the community they operate in. “We are reliant on the business community to support us and we in turn support and strengthen it,” she says. “Many business people have had a personal experience with hospice and so it’s fantastic to see this business group giving back in this way as they have grown stronger in our local community.”

BNI Wine Country meets weekly from 7am Tuesdays at Off the Track restaurant in Havelock North.

ENDS

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