Dan Blackbourn, GM Operations for APN Print NZ, says the company can be proud of the efforts across all sites. "The effort really is a credit to staff who have recognised the importance of cancer research and totally got behind the need for fund-raising. In 2006 we were amazed to raise over $35,000 across the New Zealand sites so to have closed off 2007 over $1000 up on that figure is a special achievement." Mr Blackbourn said APN Print Central (Waipukurau) was outstanding in its efforts.
"Central set a cracking pace all year and deserves an extra pat on the back for the way they manage to think of new ideas constantly. The ingenuity of the sites to come up with ideas for fundraising never ceases to surprise me.
"I found myself caught up in this when I put the challenge to the print sites that if they come up with $500 I would come and work at their sites for the day, and ended up doing inserting by hand and stacking with the staff in APN Print Tauranga.
"It gave me a chance to see first-hand how APN Print staff throw themselves into the spirit of the occasion, and also how serious they are in devoting their time and effort to a very worthy cause.
Examples of the work put in by APN Print sites at Central, Tauranga, Wanganui and Hastings, Christchurch and Ellerslie include:
Central
A quiz evening raised over $2500 with 28 teams competing; a garage sale raised over $2500; and the raffle of a children's playhouse raised about $3000.
Tauranga
Tauranga's numerous activities included barbecues and raffles. The main event was a fun walk, run and ride day. On this day about 50 staff and families helped out with marshalling and selling of food and drink. Total raised on the day was $5496.
Wanganui
Wanganui's main thrust of fundraising was the "Food for Thought" recipe book which raised close to $4500 of the site's total $6900. This was done by selling advertising to local suppliers who were generous in responding to the call. The production costs for the book were covered by main suppliers donating product and services, including Spicers Paper, Webco, Coates and Packaging House.
Hastings
APN Print Hastings' list of fundraising events included $557 from muffin sales, $200 from a foot spa raffle, $500 from an ABC racing game, $300 scratch sales, $500 from a camera raffle and $700 in donations.
Ellerslie
APN Print Ellerslie held a Golf Day to raise funds at which suppliers were well represented with teams entered from Norske Skog, Coates, Chemtek, 3M, Leightons Transport and Auckland Lighting Services. To increase the fund raising Kieran O'Donnell (Ellerslie Post Press Manager) offered to wear a pink tutu around the golf course for the day if there was enough sponsorship paid. With just over $1000 collected out came the tutu. The golf tournament raised $2100.
Christchurch
APN Print Christchurch raised $4050 from donations, a coin trail, raffles, a garage sale and a sausage sizzle. Staff were enthusiastic about finding items for the garage sale, including a a roof rack and pod from the storage area that later turned out to be the property of a staff member who plays in a show band and had stored their band equipment upstairs! Fortunately the buyer was known to the staff members.
Mr Blackbourn said new targets would be set for 2008.
"The way staff have taken fund-raising to heart across the country is a credit to them and the company, and we will be finding more worthy causes to target for our support this year".
For further information please contact:
Dan Blackbourn
GM Operations – APN Print NZ
Mobile 021 770 804
