Ray White offices have partnered with Ronald McDonald House and community charities across New Zealand to deliver an inspiring Christmas campaign for New Zealand families who may need a little extra light in their festive season.
Now in its third year, the Little Ray of Giving program has launched across the country for 2014 with New Zealanders being asked to dig deep to put smiles on the faces of some special children in their community – by simply purchasing a small gift and popping in to their local Ray White office. The gifts will then be distributed by our offices, and partnered charities, to either families staying at Ronald McDonald Houses across New Zealand or others in our community who could do with a lift this festive season.
Christmas is a special time of year shared with family, spending quality time with one another and enjoying the festivities. However, in an instant everything can change. This is the reality for many families staying at Ronald McDonald Houses across New Zealand.
Ray White have a long-standing commitment to Ronald McDonald House (RMH) who provide a home away from home for families from all over New Zealand when their children require specialist medical treatment in another city. Since 2007 Ray White New Zealand Offices have been involved by partnering with RMH to help keep families together, and this year have stepped up their support of the charity by offering individual salesperson support partnership initiatives in addition to the long established office partnership opportunities, and programs such as A Little Ray of Giving.
Families with a chronically ill child are often placed under immense emotional, physical and financial stress, especially at Christmas time – so, Christmas is one of the most special events on the calendar for Ronald McDonald Houses – as they aim to recreate the setting that families would have in their own home environment. In Auckland alone, Ronald McDonald House will spread some cheer to over 300 families staying with them during the Christmas season. Over 400 plates of traditional Christmas dinner will be made and served, and more than 180 Santa sacks made for each of the families. Understanding that Christmas can be a challenging time for any family Ray White New Zealand decided to step up their support of A Little Ray of Giving so that families can further enjoy and spend Christmas together. Ray White has run A Little Ray of Giving across New Zealand since December 2012, and last year more than 3,000 gifts were donated across 55 offices – with an ever larger number of offices taking part across the country this year.
“Riding off the support for the Ronald McDonald House Street Appeal held nationally in June, we are excited to to have another chance to help keep Kiwi families together when they need it most. The Little Ray of Giving gift drive is a simple way to help families who may have their mind on more pressing issues at this time of year. Sometimes just a small gift can make the biggest difference to someone in need at Christmas.” said Carey Smith, CEO of Ray White New Zealand.
Ray White Queenstown principal Bas Smith said it was a ”simple way of having a huge impact on someone else’s Christmas… People often think financial hardship doesn’t exist in our town, but we know that’s not true. There are a number of children, families and individuals in the Wakatipu who will spend Christmas alone and with very little, while others will have more than they need. ” Their offices in Queenstown, Arrowtown or Frankton have chosen to partner with their local Rotary Club to deliver gifts to children across their community this year.
Wayne Howett, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Auckland says “With the help of the community, thoughtful individuals and our corporate partners like Ray White New Zealand we are better able to provide a supportive atmosphere for these families at such an important time – especially as Christmas is about families…. At Ronald McDonald House we like to celebrate Christmas with gifts that we share with our families. This is where the thoughtfulness and generosity of a whole community can bring festive cheer to the families staying at the Houses over Christmas, especially the children. This year we are so very appreciative of Ray White’s generosity in re-launching A Little Ray of Giving which will benefit so many of the families who will be with us over this Christmas period.”
To get involved in your community simply wrap up a present and drop it into your local Ray White office. Tell the Ray White team if the gift is for a boy or girl (or mum or dad), nominate an age group and your gift will be delivered by the Ronald McDonald House or charity teams to a local family who will appreciate the lift to their festive season.