Kiwi Mums Raise Money for Disadvantaged Kiwi Kids

“Being a mum is better than I ever imagined. I can’t believe how much love I have for my daughter… she is undoubtedly the greatest achievement of my life.”

~ Toni Street

Kiwi Mums Raise Money for
Disadvantaged Kiwi Kids

On Sunday, some of our favourite Kiwi mums celebrated Mother’s Day with a special High Tea at Heritage Auckland in support of Variety – The Children’s Charity. TVNZ’s Renee Wright and Toni Street, Mary Lambie, Jayne Kiely, and singer Tami Neilson joined forces to raise money for disadvantaged Kiwi kids.

Over $3500 was raised from the event which will fund 90 care packs for disadvantaged Kiwi Kids. With over 270,000 Kiwi kids living in poverty, many children are missing out on life’s essential items. Through our new Kiwi kid sponsorship programme, Variety is supporting families so their children can have much-needed items like home basics, school stationery and doctor’s visits. The packs, which will go to 90 Kiwi kids in need, contain a brand new school bag, toothpaste and a toothbrush, shampoo and conditioner, and a notebook and pen.

The event was MC’d by Mary Lambie, who spoke to Toni and Renee about their joys and lessons learnt from motherhood. Mary Lambie says she was honoured to help raise awareness and money for children in our country whose families are struggling. “Mothering is hard enough without the added pressure of wondering where the next meal will come from - too many of our children are exposed to this stress and uncertainty,” she said.

Jane Portman, the principal of a decile one school in Gisborne, was a special guest speaker at the event. She said health care is expensive for families on a limited income. “Instead of seeking care when a child first gets sick they often are left to get much worse,” said Jane. “Our children start in education on the back foot, there is no level playing field for them.”

This event would not be possible without the help of event supporters Heritage Auckland, Frank Stationery, Pretty Baker, New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, Red Seal, Tamara Spa and Spa Ayurda.

About Variety:

Variety - The Children's Charity levels the playing field for disadvantaged Kiwi kids. Every year we help over 10,000 local children - we meet their unmet health and education needs providing them with brighter futures. We work alongside schools, agencies and the government, tackling child poverty so the Kiwi kids who urgently need our life-changing assistance are set up to reach their full potential in life.

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