Charitable Foundation seeks recipients

First National real estate group announces the launch of its official charitable vehicles the First National Charitable Foundation - to provide increased financial support for community initiatives.

At a member meeting in Wellington yesterday (8/10) First National real estate agents raised close to $7,000 at an auction at the Brentwood Hotel to kick the fund off.

First National Charitable Foundation trustee Ann Crossley said until now First National's 70 nation-wide offices had made individual donations to local community causes as their businesses could afford it.

The launch of the Foundation would enable those donations to be pooled so larger sums could be donated to worthy causes.

"First National is a socially responsible group. Our members run businesses that are integral parts of their communities. Being a co-operative rather than a franchise, First National has a culture of partnership, and the launch of the Foundation is an extension of that culture."

Mr Crossley said First National New Zealand was seeking a key recipient for a strategic partnership, as well as other beneficiaries.

"This is about getting collective involvement in a way that each partner can do something bigger than they could do by themselves."

First National Foundation trustee Ann Crossley said while some charity fundraisers only passed on a proportion of funds gathered, all the money raised by the Foundation would go to its beneficiaries.

While suitable recipients were being sought, First National members would actively fundraise in the meantime to build up the financial base.

First National Australia launched a charitable foundation two years ago whose main recipient is the Red Cross.

First National Australia chief executive Ray Ellis, who attended yesterday's launch and said the association with Red Cross enabled the real estate network's fundraising to be directed into activities that extended far beyond the organisation's own ability to help in event of regional and national disasters.

Expressions of interest in becoming a recipient of the Foundation can be made by contacting Mrs Crossley in the first instance.

Additional information:

Objectives of the Foundation include:
* Advancement of education
*Support for activities that enhance the community in New Zealand.
For example:
a. Education scholarship funds
b. Funding of vocational training particularly (but not exclusively) in Real Estate
c. Donations to early childhood centres and schools
d. Donations to national organizations particularly involved in the detection, prevention and treatment within the health sector and the facilitation of social rehabilitation
e. Donations to national organizations particularly involved in disaster recovery and the provision of emergency rescue services.

ENDS

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