News

Choptober

Sat 04 September 2010

What is Choptober?

In a nutshell, Choptober is an annual fundraising event where people grow their sideburns (“chops”) for charity during the month of October...

Choptober was created by Jeremy Mould and Seton Lillas: a couple of Kiwi lads who wanted to start a locally owned and run fundraiser where 100% of the donations received during the campaign would go straight to Kiwi charities. Choptober is raising money for five Kiwi charities including SIDS. How does Choptober work?

People who are keen to participate in Choptober ("Chop Growers") can register through http://www.choptober.co.nz. During registration they will be asked to nominate one of our five charities as the charity they wish to support.

Come October 1st participants start growing their chops and recruiting friends, family, colleagues and even complete strangers to sponsor them.

Donations from sponsors are collected via the Choptober website and passed in-full and direct to the "Chop Growers" nominated charity – no commissions, fees or cuts.

Charities get 100% of the money raised because the Choptober event is run using the personal funds of its founding members Jeremy and Seton, the kindness of Kiwi organisations that donate their services and of course their friends and family. The organisations that are involved have donated approximately $100,000 in goods and services to the campaign thus far.

Who can participate?

Anyone and everyone! If you’re keen to support children’s charities then Choptober is for you.

You can participate by growing your chops, and/or by sponsoring someone who’s growing theirs.

Growing sideburns isn’t just for the blokes...we want all the women of New Zealand to take part too. Ladies can sculpt their hair to simulate sideburns, or use our patented fake sideburns (Chop Sticks) to create the desired look.

We have enlisted a number of "Celebrity Chop Growers" to lead the hair growing charge. Some of the names confirmed to participate thus far include Head Like A Hole, Quentin Pongia, Robbett Hollis (Host Of SnowTV), Karl Burnett, Michele A'Court, Mike King and Jason Napier (of facebook fame). ]

Ok, I’m keen to participate. What should I do next?

"Chop Growers" can register to take part at http://www.choptober.co.nz. You’ll find everything you need to know about Choptober on the website.

To keep up-to-date with the latest Choptober news and become part of the community you can:
Join our facebook group @ http://www.choptober.co.nz/facebook
Follow us on twitter @ http://www.choptober.co.nz/twitter

And keep your eyes and ears peeled: you’ll see Choptober cropping up in all sorts of places.

Anthony Fields “Choptober Ambassador” for SIDS NZ

Wed 14 July 2010

You probably already know who The Wiggles are and that Anthony is a member, but here are some extraordinary things you may not know...

Anthony Field

  • Anthony has a degree in Early Childhood, he’s a musician who plays the violin, tin whistle, bag pipes, guitar and didgeridoo.

  • Played with the Australian Army Pipes and drums, and a part of the original Australian band the Cockroaches and creator of the Wiggles who formed over eleven years ago.

  • The Wiggles have sold in excess of 9million videos and 5.5million albums in Australia and the USA alone.

  • The list of achievements for the Wiggles is breathtaking, they are the most successful Australian Children’s entertainment group of all time.

  • They have won the Highest selling Children’s Sell-Thru Video for 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002, 3 ARIA awards and 3 APRA awards for best Children’s song and album

  • In Australia, The Wiggles have been awarded: 11 Gold album awards 7 Platinum album awards 3 Double Platinum album awards

  • Recent tours in the USA, Wiggles tickets have been the hottest in town with $20 tickets being sold on e-bay for ten times the value.

  • Robert De Niro and Jerry Seinfeld met the Wiggles on their tour in New York City last year, where The Wiggles also appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

  • They are the only Australian act to have performed twice on NBC’s Today Show

  • The Wiggles are now Australian icons and ambassadors overseas, The L.A. Times proclaimed “The Australian invasion continues.. Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman and now...The Wiggles!”

For more information on Choptober click here for our news article about it from last year, and click here for the official Choptober site.

Click here to visit The Wiggles Official site.

Payroll Giving - Give As You Earn

Thu 21 January 2010

The scheme allows employees to make donations to SIDS and Kids and other charitable organisations automatically from their pay. It’s a great alternative to giving, retaining a receipt and claiming a tax credit at the end of the year. The payment will be forwarded to SIDS and Kids New Zealand by the donor’s employer, and the donor will receive immediate tax benefits, shown in their normal pay, based on the amount of their donation. If you make a $6.00 donation to SIDS and Kids New Zealand every week you will receive a tax credit of $2.00. Donations will go to help SIDS and Kids New Zealand provide support to families who lose a child and to provide resources to Moe Ora, our bassinette loan scheme providing beds for babies.

To support SIDS and Kids New Zealand talk to your employer and ask them to set up the scheme.

For more information on payroll giving visit the payroll information on the IRD website

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

Sat 09 January 2010

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

SIDS AND KIDS NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED

SATURDAY 16TH JANUARY, 2010

1.00 PM

COLLINGWOOD HOUSE

104 CORNWALL ROAD, WAIUKU

Notice is hereby given of a special general meeting to be held on Saturday 16th January 2010.

The primary purpose of this meeting is to elect a new board to enable the organisation to comply with the constitution and our status as a Registered Charity. Other items will be discussed in relation to current projects and short term plans.

We encourage anyone who feels that they can contribute to the organisation of SIDS and Kids New Zealand Incorporated and the provision of support and resources for anyone who loses a child in New Zealand to attend.

Please email or phone us:

Phone: 0800 80 7437 pin 2670 # or 09 2356107

Assistance is available for travel and accommodation.

Chairperson
George Beazley

Co-ordinator Margret Free