Added donations to local charities, as part of Support My Cause campaign

CCEP NZ has donated an additional $15,000 to some of the finalist charities from this year’s Support My Cause campaign; including Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, I Am Hope and The Kindness Collective.

Support My Cause is an employee-led initiative designed to support local charities, community organisations, or good causes that are meaningful to CCEP’s people, and support the communities where we operate. 2022 was the first year that the initiative rolled out in New Zealand. Winners of the original funding round include Awhitu Landcare, Auckland Women’s Refuge, and Bellyful West Auckland.

Managing Director of New Zealand and Fiji at CCEP, Chris Litchfield, said, “the Support My Cause initiative has been set up to provide immediate benefit to causes delivering important work within our communities. This year, the two categories for nominations were ‘Community and Environment' – two of the key pillars of our sustainability strategy and hugely important to us as a business.”

Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust

Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, which received a donation of $5,000 was formed in 2001. It is a non-profit charitable organisation that works with landowners, agencies, runanga, sponsors, and the wider community to promote the conservation and enhancement of indigenous biodiversity and sustainable land management on Banks Peninsula.

Andrew Robinson, Warehouse Analyst at CCEP NZ, who nominated the organisation, saw the chance to work with a local marae to help maintain the environment as an important opportunity for CCEP NZ. He said, “this charity is important to me, as my whānau has been in this area for generations. Also, our whānau has been kaitiaki of the whenua at points of time.

“Each day when I finish work and walk out the door at CCEP NZ, I’m greeted looking at part of the peninsula hills and all of its beauty. This is what I want to protect for me and future generations to come. Te toto o te tangata,he kai, te oranga o te tangata, he whenua – while food provides the blood in veins, our health is drawn from the land.”

I AM HOPE

I AM HOPE (set up by Mike King and promotor of Gumboot Day) also received $5,000 in funding. The organisation aims to promote positive attitudinal societal change around mental health throughout New Zealand, and fund private care and counselling for young people “stuck-in-the-mud” on waiting lists.

Chief Financial Officer at CCEP NZ Liz O’Neil, who nominated I AM HOPE said it’s extremely important for all people in New Zealand to have access to mental health support.

“In 2020, in Aotearoa 119 young people died by suicide and it is estimated another 3,100 tried to take their own lives. While Government agencies are doing their best, some kids are stuck waiting up to six months to receive the counselling they so urgently need. CCEP NZ’s donation will help I AM HOPE to increase availability for counselling services for young adults to access free of charge, which can be lifesaving.”

“I am thrilled CCEP NZ is able to extend the Support my Cause program in 2022 to include a donation to I am Hope,” said O’Neil.

The Kindness Collective

The $5,000 product donation made by Coca-Cola in New Zealand* to The Kindness Collective will be used to help provide a magical Christmas to tamariki in need, via the Christmas Joy Store.

Nominator, Tamati Rapana, Service Quality Manager at CCEP NZ said, “The Christmas Joy Store is New Zealand's first social toy and treat store, giving referred parents and caregivers the opportunity to have a dignified shopping experience, where they get to choose gifts for their children that they know they'll love, off the shelves for free.”

Last year's store provided over 24,000 presents to children in need from all over Auckland and this year, The Kindness Collective wants to double its impact.

The Support My Cause initiative is just one of the important initiatives that CCEP NZ invests in to support its community, alongside ongoing partnerships with Youthline and Sea Cleaners. It also supports local groups on a grassroots level with Community Caracoolers and Coke Gifting.

Click here to learn more about the Support My Cause initiative.

 *Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Coca-Cola Oceania