Our workmates
See how these New Zealand businesses are choosing to help support our families:
Ready steady cook
Our first Business Club function was held at the Auckland Seafood School in September and was a great opportunity for our newer members to meet, and for existing members to catch up once more.
Connie Clarkson, previous owner of the French Café in Auckland and Metro food writer, was our MC and guest chef for the evening. Groups were given a mystery box of ingredients and a limited time frame in which to make their creations — with AUT chefs on hand to lend advice and ensure all meals were in fact edible!
Who would have thought we had so many Gordon Ramsays in one place! The winning dish was a masterful creation cooked by Jillian (Feltex), Peter and Christine (EZGO) and our very own Lisa Kagho. Second place went to Julie (Multiplex), Niels and Rita (RMHA Trustee and his wife) and Cezar (ASB). And let’s not forget the wooden spoon award which went to Brent (GJ Gardner), Manisha (Clearlite), Nicola (Cerebos) and Manuela (ASB). The evening finished with fish and chips kindly supplied and freshly cooked by OCEANZ. Big thanks to everyone for getting involved and making it such a fun night.
Clearlite’s sizzling sale
Our friends at Clearlite Bathrooms kindly gave us an opportunity to raise funds at their August clearance sale by running a sausage sizzle outside their showroom, and a Lucky Dip for the House. Thanks to Sarah and her team! Also special thanks to Mya Tamatea (pictured) and her family for helping us out on the day. Mya and her family have been staying with us since June 2007 while Mya is on the waiting list for a new kidney.
G.J. Gardner Homes gets creative
Throughout June/July all kids in the House had a chance to win some fantastic prizes by entering an artwork competition (exclusive to House kids!) sponsored by Business Club partner G.J. Gardner Homes.
‘My Favourite Things’ was the theme and children could enter as many times as they liked. The three lucky winners each receive a prize and certificate and along with the runners-up also have their artwork featured on the G.J. Gardner Homes website for all to see!
A big congratulations to our winners (artwork pictured left to right):
- Ebony Hapi, from Masterton, age 6 (winner, age 1-6 years group)
- Etivina Maafu, from Kaitaia, age 11 (winner, age 7-11 years group)
- Turua Quilter, from Hastings, age 14 (winner, age 12-16 years group)
Also, congratulations to everyone who entered. To see all entries including our runners-up please visit www.gjgardner.co.nz.
Rai and Bow bring joy to house
Rainbow’s End staff and their resident clowns Rai and Bow joined us recently for a Wednesday family dinner. Rai and Bow did a fantastic job keeping the children amused until bedtime with some fabulous balloon creations and singing and dancing. One of the evening’s highlights was hearing one of our smaller ‘House guests’ rushing up to his Mum saying he just had to introduce her to the “Boss of Rainbows End ” ... What a job Chris!
Welcome Brookfield Multiplex
Brookfield Multiplex Group is a diversified property business with operations in construction, development, property services, asset management and investment management around the world. Always striving to provide a balance of work/life experiences for all its staff, Brookfield Multiplex visited Ronald McDonald House and experienced first hand the achievements and enthusiasm of the people involved.
They were sold on what they could do through the Business Club to contribute in a manner that would be a win-win for everyone.
Ray White gets physical
Auckland’s annual Round The Bays fun run took place in March with Ray White Corporate staff and their families, plus staff from the Ray White Thames branch (who drove up especially!), taking part to promote their support for our House.
Well done to Hayley Johnstone from accounts and her sister Monique who managed to finish the race running the entire way!
A warm welcome to the 13 new Ray White branches who have joined the Business Club since our last newsletter — Church Corner, Ellerslie, Glen Eden, Glenfield, Greenlane, Hornby, Invercargill, Lincoln, Manly, Merivale, Parnell, Remuera and St Albans (that’s a total of 28 branches now onboard!).
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The RMH Auckland Trust funds and governs Ronald McDonald House Auckland (48 rooms) and the Ronald McDonald House Family Room (13 short stay critical care rooms) in Starship Hospital. It is a registered community charitable trust comprised of the following partners: Auckland District Health Board, Child Cancer Foundation, Heart Children, The Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland, Ronald McDonald House Charities and 2 community representatives. The House and Family Room provide a ‘home away from home’ for over 3,000 families of children with life-threatening illnesses each year. The Trust through its staff and partnerships actively fundraises throughout New Zealand to achieve the $2,300,000 p.a. it needs to run the facilities and support its families. Charity Registration number: CC23591