On the seventh day of Christmas

Embargoed until: 19 December
Media Release | 19 December 2008
On the seventh day of Christmas

On the seventh day of Christmas, Auckland Airport’s travellers donated to me…$10,000 for Youthline Auckland

Today, Auckland Airport continued its 12 days of Christmas charity donations that will see $120,000 given to New Zealand charities by Christmas Eve.

The donations, made possible by the generosity of Auckland Airport’s travellers, have received an enormous amount of interest, with the 12 chosen charities selected from over 300 applications.

Auckland Airport chief executive officer, Simon Moutter, said, “Auckland Airport is proud to be able to pass on the generosity of our travellers to Youthline. Youthline is an organisation that resonates with young New Zealanders and provides them with a range of valuable support and counselling services. Like us, they are committed to helping to develop New Zealand’s future by connecting people."

Youthline received the seventh of the 12, $10,000 donations. Youthline began as a telephone counselling helpline in 1970. Since then, the organisation has grown to become a nationwide organisation that now offers a 0800 helpline, free text and email service to young New Zealanders. Included amongst the other services offered by Youthline are advocacy for youth issues, seminars and programmes, and youth research and development.

Youthline Auckland Funding Coordinator James Sutherland said, “Youthline is currently embarking on an exciting and high profile project in the heart of the Manukau community. We are redeveloping the Old Papatoetoe Fire Station into a vibrant youth centred community facility managed by Youthline Manukau, and this donation will help towards this important project."

The $10,000 donation will be used to help Youthline Manukau cover some of the setup cost of the complex phone and IT equipment needed to provide their services. The donation will also help provide the necessary technology to link Youthline Manukau to Youthline's national system, which ensures that young people and their families have access to volunteer counsellors and specialist triage counsellors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Youthline have also recently launched a donor website and appreciates any contributions no matter how big or small. To help Youthline build stronger communities for our young people please visit www.helpyouthline.co.nz.

Donations made so far…

• On the first day of Christmas – Auckland SPCA
• On the second day of Christmas – Age Concern Auckland
• On the third day of Christmas – Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand
• On the fourth day of Christmas - Auckland’s Women’s Refuge Inc
• On the fifth day of Christmas - Water Safe Auckland Inc
• On the sixth day of Christmas - Ronald McDonald House South Island
• On the seventh day of Christmas - Youthline Auckland Charitable Trust

ENDS

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