Women's Refuge offers money-can't-buy experiences to boost fundraising efforts
Thursday, 5 August 2021
Want to have happy birthday sung to you by Benee? Play a round of mini golf with Ashley Bloomfield? Be dropped off at school by Beauden and Hannah Barrett ? Have your house searched for the paranormal by the stars of Wellington Paranormal?
From today until August 15, anyone who makes a $20 donation to Women’s Refuge to give a woman a safe night’s sleep goes into a draw for these money-can’t-buy experiences – and more.
“It’s so easy to gift someone a Safe Night, someone who you may never meet, but whom you will help at a time they need it most,” said Miranda Harcourt, who is helping promote the Safe Night initiative.
Women's Refuge hopes to raise enough money for 10,000 safe nights over the next 10 days in what it’s calling a Safe-Night-a-thon.
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The fundraising will help keep thousands of women across Aotearoa safe from family violence, with $20 paying for one night in a refuge, complete with a hot meal, childcare, support and advice.
Other experiences on offer include a tree climb with actor Thomasin McKenzie, a private home concert by the Symphony Orchestra, and a chance to design a Barbie doll with fashion designer Karen Walker.
Or you could have your house deep-cleaned by Hilary Barry and Jeremy Wells, a bite at the Beehive with Grant Robertson, the chance to make your own flavour of Whittaker’s chocolate or have your voicemail message recorded by Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley.
Harcourt said the Safe Night campaign had proved hugely successful since its launch 18 months ago.
Referrals to Women’s Refuge more than doubled from 24,000 to just under 60,000 between 2016 and 2020.
- Gifting a Safe Night costs just $20, on the Safe-Night-a-thon page: safenightathon.co.nz.