I know this has been a long time coming but we have been busy!
Hi
Welcome to the first edition of the "I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday" newsletter. To be honest, we can't believe it's taken us this long to get it out, but it's been non-stop around HQ since I came on board in November!
Earlier this year, we had the Due Drop Hope Challenge, which kicked off in April after a setback due to the cyclone. The Due Drop Hope Challenge was an intense 15 days on the road—swimming, cycling, running, and even kayaking. We managed to raise a huge $500,000 over this challenge, but this amount only covers one month of counselling via the Gumboot Friday platform now! Yes, it is now costing us over $125,000 a week to provide free counselling for our tamariki.
This proves it is a much-needed service and that it is being utilised, which is great! It poses a challenge though, as we do not currently receive, nor do we anticipate ever receiving, government funding.
So, we continue to work hard, raising funds via various events and initiatives, and do our best to hit that target every month with support from our amazing community around New Zealand. Incredible Kiwis that; have been busy running 677km in a huge effort over 101 hours, have completed a 24-hour ergathon, 24-hour Karangahape Gorge Tunnel Run, 10-hour triathlon, fabulous 1920's event in Nelson, Bohemian Tattoo Arts tattooing 101 people, our younger supporters doing yummy bake sales, an incredible art auction at Turua Gallery where 100% of every piece was donated (and they were stunning pieces), Crusaders Connection Week and Hall of Fame Lunch, Ports of Auckland, Roxbox Family Treasure Hunt, Bryce Casey and the Rock FM's Rumble in the Jungle book, Flying Moa Lunch, and many, many more events and fundraising initiatives.
We truly are a community-funded organisation, which is absolutely amazing. After all, we are doing this for all our kids! We all want our tamariki to be happy, healthy, and feel safe to have conversations when they need to, seek help when they need it, and know that we have their back in this life no matter what. Regardless of their sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, family background, or financial means, we are here for all our young people.
On that note, we have been working on some exciting partnerships and have some announcements coming, so keep an eye out for those.
Thank you for all you do to support us.
Regards,
Troy Elliott
CEO
I Am Hope Foundation
Some of the events and fundraisers we have coming up:
The Charity Luncheon
I Am Hope, the One New Zealand Warriors, and The Warriors Community Foundation are teaming up to bring you the great Charity Luncheon! This will be an entertaining day with a sumptuous lunch and free-flow drinks, featuring an exclusive interview with Andrew "Webby" Webster and Game of Two Halves with a lineup of current and retired players, plus a fantastic auction.
Wednesday 16th August
11:30am
Go Media Stadium
Special thanks to the support from Bidfood, Steinlager, Pernod-Ricard, Hire Plants, Auckland Stadiums, Go Media, and One NZ Warriors
All Black legend Ardie Savea has chosen Gumboot Friday to be one of his One Good Kiwi squad for this month and guess what.... you can give us your tokens and it doesn't even cost you anything! Simply go to the One Good Kiwi website and download the appropriate app for your device, log in then scroll along until you find Gumboot Friday then flick us your tokens. It's as easy as that!
The Blonde Mullet Brigade (BMB) was inspired by the incredible efforts of one of our dedicated supporters who grew a blue mullet last year. This year, we are officially launching BMB, which will start on August 1st and run until August 31st. The concept behind BMB is to encourage anyone to participate, sparking conversations and fostering connections around mental health support.
We already have some amazing young BMB members who have raised over $1,000 on their fundraising pages! Here's how it works: create your own fundraising page under the Blonde Mullet Brigade campaign on Givealittle, share it with your network, and keep them updated on your progress.
So don't wait any longer—join the Brigade today! 🤘🏽
Get ready for a charity event like no other as we once again break free from traditional seated dinners and black-tie attire. It's time to party! Join us as your hosts for the evening, Helena Lowe, Zane Tate, and Mike King, lead you through an unforgettable night.
Building upon the success of last year's event, we'll amaze you with mind-blowing theatrical performances, live charity auctions, and sensational live music that will keep you dancing throughout the night. Held at the magnificent Christchurch Art Gallery, this promises to be an unforgettable evening.
Step into the gallery and enter a utopian world that must be seen to be believed. The Gala 'Higher Love' is an evening of ethereal decadence where we celebrate love, cherish one another, and provide support. It's your chance to indulge yourself and wear what truly makes you happy—nothing is too much! Sequins, prints, embroidery, florals, pearls, pastels, gold, whites, feathers, patterns, fur, gowns, over-the-top suits, headpieces—show us how you embody the Higher Love theme!
Throughout the year, our I Am Hope ambassadors visit hundreds of schools with our "Little People, Big Feelings" programme. They read our new TR & Mac book, "Little People, Big Feelings," and engage in conversations with young primary age kids about asking for help and normalising counselling as "just a conversation." They also share coping tools for them to utilise during times of stress.
It's alarming to know that 40% of kids will experience a major crisis, often accompanied by thoughts of suicide, before they finish school. Sadly, 80% of these kids never seek help due to concerns about others' perceptions and reactions.
With our programme, our aim is to reduce these numbers and empower kids to feel comfortable seeking counselling or talking to their peers without fear of judgment.
The I Am Hope tours are an unfunded service provided to schools and communities at no cost, and all expenses are covered by our charity.
We need your support to meet the growing demand. Together, we can build a better-informed and more resilient generation of young people, equipping them with tools they can pass on to future generations.
By joining the I Am Hope team at the 2023 Auckland Marathon, you can run with the knowledge that every step you take is helping young people in New Zealand reach a better place
20% Off Coupon Code (be quick - vaild till 31 July)
This offer is only applicable to orders over NZD$50 during the month of July 2023. Simply enter the coupon code ( NEWSLETTERTAHI ) in the 'Coupon/Gift Certificate' or 'Add Coupon' options during checkout.
