Thu 4 Nov 2010 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The Gay Auckland Business Association Charitable Trust will filter more than $30,000 back into the GLBT community after two major fundraising efforts this year. The Help Out in October initiative has raised $12,000. Organisers had hoped to raise $25,000, but were hampered by a lack of community engagement and shortage of volunteers. However many people dug into their pockets to help out and businesses such as Urge, which raised $2,700 over the month, were strong supporters of the cause. GABA also raised more than $18,000 from its charity auction earlier this year and organisations is financial distress can make application to the GABA Charitable Trust for emergency relief, with the funds to be distributed upon application and in accordance with need. Body Positive, OUTLine, the Charlotte Trust and Rainbow Youth were identified as the groups in urgent need of funding ahead of the Help Out in October fundraising drive. GABA President Glenn Sims wants to make the GLBT community self-sufficient by growing the trust into the funding body of choice for GLBT charities and NGOs. He is calling for members of the community to consider setting up automatic payments to the trust from their bank accounts. "Just 1000 people donating $5 a week (that's the cost of a cup of coffee) would raise $260,000. To put this into perspective, $260,000 would almost fully fund Rainbow Youth AND OUTLine for an entire year," he says. To donate a regular amount each week or fortnight, monthly or quarterly, there are two ways that you can do this. You can either set up an automatic payment via online banking using the following account number ASB 12 3064 0216613 00 Or please print out the AP form fill it out, then send it to: The GABA Charitable Trust, PO Box 3092, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 4th November 2010 - 1:06pm