Valerie Adams Backs Healthy Fundraising Initiative

Valerie Adams Backs Healthy Fundraising Initiative

Four-time world shot put champion Valerie Adams is supporting an exciting new healthy fundraising initiative ecostore has developed using the humble cake of soap.

Adams, who was also named “IAAF Athlete of the Year” in 2014, says she is all about being active and healthy and was impressed with the sugar-free fundraising alternative ecostore is introducing.

“I understand it’s really tough for groups to raise money and an easy fix is to sell chocolate, sweets and sausage sizzles, but New Zealand’s obesity rates are out of control and injecting more junk food into the community is the last thing our children need. So when I heard ecostore was working on this healthy initiative I wanted to help get the message out that there is a fundraising alternative for groups to use.”

Founder of ecostore, Malcolm Rands says having Adams backing the ‘Good Soap for a Good Cause’ initiative, where groups make a $1 profit from every individual soap sold, is huge.

“Val is an icon in New Zealand. She’s the ‘auntie’ every Kiwi kid wants, so to have her support is massive. Many of us don’t realise that when we reward with sweets we are actually creating a problem around obesity and early onset of diabetes. Right now 30% of New Zealand adults (1,069,000) and 10% of our children (79,000)* are obese. That’s not just overweight but obese and just under half of those are Maori and Pacific Island children*,” Rands says.

“The Ministry of Health predicts that obesity will become New Zealand’s leading risk to our health in 2016. Early onset diabetes is incredibly concerning for health implications going forward and I believe as a country we all need to be part of the solution. Doing good stuff is at the heart of our brand so this initiative is one way ecostore is trying to do our bit to encourage healthy communities.”

Adams has recorded a fun video promoting the initiative that can be viewed at http://youtu.be/PWCvdJS4VvA
“It was a lot of fun recording it. I spent years fundraising to go to national tournaments and know first-hand what it’s like going door to door selling things. It’s character building and makes you want that title even more. I love that ecostore’s initiative is a healthy option that schools, early childhood centres, charities and not-for-profit organisations can use – and who doesn’t need soap!”

The individual cakes of soap come in a user-friendly carry carton of 24 with groups making $1 profit on every individual soap sold. ecostore has developed supporting material to assist groups including tips on successful selling, a tally sheet, a flyer to leave behind, a certificate to reward sellers, plus letter templates.

Rands says they have tried to think of everything fundraisers require to ensure well-deserving causes get maximum results.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for any group using our soaps to raise funds so we’ve developed everything you need. There are even options to personalise soaps with a message or a school stamp or sports team logo.”

As the fundraising coordinator at Freemans Bay Playcentre, Victoria Tupou was keen to find a way to raise money that would be easy for the parents of their playcentre.

“ecostore's fundraising soaps are a healthy and a useful alternative to other fundraising products out there. It's a great fit for us, because we already use ecostore products within the centre. The packaging is cute and allowed us to add our own playcentre sticker. We sold the soaps so easily and people have commented to us what a great product it is. People just love it.”

Tupou says it’s a great benefit having easy online access to ecostore’s supportive fundraising material.
“As a busy mum, I'm often sorting out fundraising initiatives late at night, so it definitely helps to be able to access everything you need online. I order the soaps and then download the tally sheet, sellers flyer, certificates - everything is provided.”

The soaps’ packaging has distinctive artwork by illustrator Rands’ daughter Ahi Rands. People can purchase ecostore’s Good Soaps knowing they are nourishing, plant-based soaps that will clean your hands without drying out your skin and they are cruelty free too.

“As with all our ecostore products, the soap contains no nasty chemicals such as animal tallow, triclocarban and cocamidopropyl betaine and they are available in two fragrances Lemongrass and Grapefruit and Mint,” Rands adds.

For more information http://www.ecostore.co.nz/fundraising

*Source: Annual update of key results 2013/2014: New Zealand Health Survey. Ministry of Health, Dec 2014.
ENDS

© Scoop Media