Superstars of workplace giving donate $26,000

Turanga Health joined Sunrise’s workplace giving scheme in 2015, offering their staff the opportunity to donate to Sunrise every pay day through their
payroll system.

The past five years has seen Turanga Health become the superstar of workplace giving. During that time 22 people have given, from as little as $5 per week, and the total amount donated is now a whopping $26,000.

Billy Babbington and Laura Biddle were among the first to join workplace giving, they have been donating every week since July 2015. Billy says “it’s great being part of workplace giving. I don’t miss the money I donate every week and I really enjoy giving to a cause that is helping our community.”

Laura agrees that it’s been easy to do and says “it’s important to me that Sunrise is a local charity and my donations are going to help build a more prosperous Tairāwhiti for my mokopuna.”

Violet Crawford, Marnie Evans and Henry Lamont started donating last year and have requested their donations go into the Vanessa Lowndes Fund at Sunrise.

Vanessa Lowndes Centre builds confidence and prepares people with mental, physical or intellectual disabilities, for employment.

Vanessa Lowndes Turanga Trust has promised to match, dollar for dollar, all donations to the Vanessa Lowndes Fund at Sunrise.

Violet believes strong support from the top is the reason workplace giving has been so successful at Turanga Health. She says “there is good leadership at Turanga Health. It is awesome what the whole team does for whanau, we are very blessed.”

Sunrise workplace giving is not only an easy way to give back to the community, it also has an immediate tax benefit. For every dollar donated, the government pays one third, which is a win-win situation for both the donor and Sunrise.

Violet has chosen to donate $7.50 a week, of which the government pays $2.50, meaning her pay packet is down just $5.00, and as Violet says “that’s only a cup of coffee a week”.

Henry Lamont says “the Sunrise form was in the induction pack when I started, from there it was easy to sign up. My daughter has a disability, so naturally the Vanessa Lowndes Fund resonates with me.”

Marnie Evans had heard of Sunrise before joining Turanga Health, but says this was the first opportunity for her give a little bit each week through workplace giving.

“The Vanessa Lowndes Centre has a special place in my heart, so I’ve asked that my donations go to their fund. The fact that Turanga Health is doubling my donation just topped it off for me”.

Read more about Sunrise Workplace Giving