Fostering the ongoing relationship with Plunket in Northland, Ray White Kerikeri ran their annual Ray White Teddy Bear’s Picnic in Kerikeri on Sunday 14 April 2019.
The event saw hundreds converge on Kerikeri’s Stone Store Basin for an afternoon of entertainment which included a teddy bear parade, colouring competitions, a giant bubble display, raffles, games and other prizes.
Over $600 was raised at this years’ event – with proceeds going to Plunket and Mac’s Patch. The Ray White Kerikeri team sold sausages and cupcakes and gave out Ray White frisbees, Plunket set up a marquee with raffles and a colouring competition, Mac’s Patch also set up a marquee full of games for the kids to play and interact with, and the Easter Bunny also made an appearance – handing out chocolate eggs.
Plunket is New Zealand’s largest provider of support services for the development, health and well-being of children under 5. The funds raised at this years event will help Plunket work with families within our community, to ensure the best start for every child.
This year the Kerikeri team were proud to welcome Mac’s Patch to the event. Created by children’s entertainer, Kylie Penn, Mac’s Patch is made up of a variety of characters who each focus on individual aspects of personal development for children – providing a unique approach to supporting children and families establish valuable life skills.
The Ray White team including salespeople Anne Jolly, Beren Knox, Pam Finlay, Kaye Streamer, Melissa Russell, Property Manager Tracy Barker and organisers owner Laura Knox-Whyte and Courtney Wilson and Andrea Spake, assisted by husbands, family and friends all got involved. With Laura’s son, Ethan, stepping into some pretty big (bunny) boots too. – A few very special guest judges stepped up to help with teddy bear judging this year – including Little Chick from Mac’s Patch, Toni Yarrow from Plunket, Kylie Penn from Mac’s Patch and Melissa Russell’s husband, Mike – a local police officer) rising to the challenge. With 130 bears registered it was certainly hard deciding on the winners – and six winners were ultimately chosen from each category – each receiving ribbons, plus category winners taking home Toppers Ice Cream vouchers. Equally hard was judging for the colouring competition with countless entries dropped off on the day.
With a passion for family, and giving back to the local community, Company Director Laura Knox-Whyte says “As the longest-standing real estate agency in our area we feel a real sense of connectedness with our community, and we are always looking for fun ways to ‘give-back’. Plunket helps to give our youngsters the best start in life and I think that’s really important. Similarly, Mac’s Patch’s mission is to shine a light on information that can support children in reaching their full potential and living a happy and healthy life – values we hold dear”
“We strive to do our very best, to be the very best, to grow in an atmosphere which develops a passion and enjoyment for both work and life.”
Established in the early 1950s, Ray White Kerikeri is the longest established real estate company in the area, and now a second-generation family-owned business.