Family fun with a charitable twist this Christmas

Family fun with a charitable twist this Christmas

The Museum of Transport and Technology is giving Aucklanders the chance to brighten the lives of those less fortunate this Christmas with two annual initiatives that also promise their fair share of action for the whole family.

‘Give and you shall receive’: 1-24 December

The ‘Give and you shall receive’ campaign will see admission fees throughout December used to buy presents that are given to Variety – The Children’s Charity and Auckland City Mission. The Team at MOTAT are hoping to purchase more than $30,000 worth of gifts over this time.

‘MOTAT Nights, Christmas Lights’: 12-14 and 19-24 December

‘MOTAT Nights, Christmas Lights’ event series will offer visitors the chance to experience an array of twilight festivities in the Historic Village for a $2 charitable donation.

“This is a true partnership approach between MOTAT, two exceptional charities and the wider Auckland community,” says MOTAT CEO, Michael Frawley.

Auckland City Mission will give gifts to families from mid -December and at their big Christmas Lunch on Christmas Day.

“This is an opportunity for families to spend time together while also helping Aucklanders living in desperate need,” says Auckland City Mission CEO, Diane Robertson. “The support makes a huge difference to our Christmas fundraising appeal.”

Variety - The Children’s Charity will be teaming up with Shane Cortese and other ambassadors on 18 December to host almost forty children from Stand Children’s Services. For the first time in the appeal’s history, children will be transported to MOTAT where they will be given presents and a chance to enjoy everything the Museum has to offer.

“This will be a truly memorable experience for the kids,” says Variety CEO, Lorraine Taylor.

‘MOTAT Nights, Christmas Lights’ runs every night between 12-14 and 19-24 December and is going to be bigger than ever before. Visitors will have the chance to experience horse and carriage rides, carol singing and a host of Christmas food and entertainment under a beautifully lit Historic Village.

This year’s series include a display of the interactive ‘Boing, Boing, Gloop Machine’ from Perceptual Engineering designer Jon Baxter. The machine has been hugely popular with both children and adults at recent festivals including Art in the Dark and Splore.

“Trillion Trust has generously funded additional lighting that will enable us to expand the event this year,” says Mr Frawley. “This is a unique opportunity to experience MOTAT at night.”

It is estimated that 1 in 4 New Zealand children live in poverty and Lorraine Taylor says that most of these kids would not receive a real Christmas if it was not for these types of appeals.

“It makes a real difference,” says Ms Taylor.

For more information, please visit www.motat.org.nz or call 0800 668 2869.

ENDS

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