Purple Cake Day Announces 2013 Fundraising Results

27 June 2013

Purple Cake Day Announces 2013 Fundraising Results

Nelson-based charity Purple Cake Day is celebrating the success of this year’s campaign, and saying a big thank you to all its generous supporters, contributors and volunteers.

NZD$76,000 has been raised so far this year through the Purple Cake Day March 8 Global Day of Action, online fundraising, donations, and events such as a children’s wearable arts competition The M.A.D Show.

The funds will be distributed between Purple Cake Day’s project partner organisations to support life-changing education projects for children and communities in need. This year, the Hilde Back Education Fund in Kenya will receive NZD$40,000, First Steps Himalaya in Nepal NZD$21,000, and the Children of Haiti Project will receive NZD$15,000.

This year’s country in focus is Kenya, where Purple Cake Day supports the Hilde Back Education Fund; an organisation that helps kids from poor families to get access to education. The Hilde Back Education Fund was founded by United Nations Human Rights Lawyer Chris Mburu, who, through similar generosity, received the education that now enables him to help others. “We at the Hilde Back Education Fund are thrilled to be the main beneficiaries of this year's fundraising campaign by Purple Cake Day,” says Chris. “The funds will significantly transform the lives of poor and desperate kids who look up to us for support, and will help us amplify our message that education is a fundamental human right. We thank the organizers of the Purple Cake Day for thinking of us in Kenya, and we look forward to our continued collaboration.”

The Kenyan charity is the subject of the Jennifer Arnold award winning documentary “A Small Act”, which has screened nationally this year to raise funds for Purple Cake Day.

Fionna Heiton, CEO and Founding Director of First Steps Himalaya, is delighted with the results of Purple Cake Day 2013. “Last year, Purple Cake Day helped us establish four early childhood centres and support five reception classes in primary schools in rural Nepal,” Fionna says. “With funding from this year's event, First Steps Himalaya will continue to support these children, upgrade classrooms, provide educational materials, train and support teachers and provide ongoing supervision and monitoring in these schools. First Steps Himalaya is extremely appreciative of support from Purple Cake Day so that young children in disadvantaged societies can access their rights to a better education.”

Dominique Pierre, Director of the Children of Haiti Project School in Port-au-Prince is thrilled at the news that they will receive NZD$15,000. “I would like to thank the Kenbe La Foundation Charitable Trust and Purple Cake Day on behalf of the children and their parents,” Dominique says. “Your foundation's contribution to these children's education is valuable beyond measure. So many in this country go to bed hungry or have no hope for even the most basic education.”

Purple Cake Day are still actively fundraising towards this year’s NZD$100,000 target and direct donations to Purple Cake Day are still welcomed via the website. Founder and Director, Emily Sanson-Rejouis extends her thanks to all those involved. “Purple Cake Day owes its success not to me but to our team of volunteers and to all of the children, schools, families, community groups and businesses that rally together to celebrate, raise awareness and funds. Together we are providing life-changing education opportunities to children in hardship and poverty. We can be proud we are doing something worthwhile and taking action to create a better future for all our children.”

Background Information
Purple Cake Day is a charity that supports children to get the education they need to break the poverty cycle and create a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities. The Purple Cake Day Global Day of Action was on 8 March 2013.

Purple Cake Day is about kids helping kids. It celebrates and connects children all over the world, and helps them learn about their role in the global community. It aims to grow our children’s spirit of compassion, respect, and leadership.

Education is the single most important factor in reducing poverty – but currently accounts for only 2% of humanitarian aid. Purple Cake Day partners with established projects in developing countries to ensure that we provide direct and effective benefit to children in need.

Purple Cake Day 2013 aims to raise NZD$100,000 to sustain current education support for children in Haiti and Nepal, and extend this support to children in Kenya.

Purple Cake Day is an initiative of the Kenbe La Foundation Charitable Trust, a New Zealand Registered Trust. (no CC44756).

The Kenbe La Foundation Charitable Trust and Purple Cake Day were founded by humanitarian Emily Sanson-Rejouis, following the loss of her husband Emmanuel (39) and daughters, Kofie-Jade (5) and Zenzie (3), in the Haiti Earthquake in January 2010.

For more information: www.purplecakeday.org

ENDS

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