On the fourth day of Christmas

On the fourth day of Christmas, Auckland Airport’s travellers donated to me… $10,000 for Auckland Women’s Refuge!

Auckland Airport’s Father Christmas continued his 12 days of Christmas charity donations that will see $120,000 given to New Zealand charities by Christmas Eve.

Auckland Women’s Refuge today received the fourth slice of the 12, $10,000 donations. Women’s Refuge cares for women and their children who have suffered from domestic violence. Women from all walks of life receive help and support from the service, in a bid to live free from abuse. The team of mainly volunteers provides 24 hour access to a safe haven and works to eliminate family violence from through education and support.

Chief executive officer of Auckland Airport, Simon Moutter, said, “It is heartening to see the work of people like Women’s Refuge. The airport is a huge community and, like Women’s Refuge, we also see it as a top priority to provide a safe environment for all who work here and pass through our gates.”

“We do a dance when we receive donations like this,” said Auckland Women’s Refuge chairwoman Maxine Revell, “We are a grass roots organisation and our priority at this time of the year is with our families and making sure they are safe. Getting a donation like this is a huge weight of our shoulders.

“We will use the money to treat our families to a special Christmas dinner, take them shopping, buy vouchers for children and families in our community, make up food parcels and perhaps even have enough left over to update the decorations on our tired looking Christmas tree!”

The Christmas period is one of the refuge’s busiest times. Families have left behind their belongings, homes, friends, schools and workplaces in an effort to live in a safe place, something many of us take for granted.

Auckland Airport kicked off its 12 days of Christmas charity donation promotion on Saturday. All donations are made possible by the generosity of Auckland Airport’s travellers who have donated their foreign currency or loose change in donation globes positioned throughout the airport.

Donations made so far…

• On the first day of Christmas – Auckland SPCA, $10,000
• On the second day of Christmas – Age Concern Auckland, $10,000
• On the third day of Christmas – Refugee Association Aotearoa New Zealand, $10,000
• On the fourth day of Christmas – Auckland Women’s Refuge, $10,000

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Aldworth
Communications Manager
Auckland Airport
+64 (0) 9 256 8917
+64 (0) 27 474 6483