The Grocery Charity Ball 2007

The 2007 Grocery Charity Ball held in Auckland on Friday 31st August raised over $500,000 for the Life Education Trust (www.lifeeducation.org.nz)

Established by Trevor Grice in New Zealand in 1988, the Life Education Trust was based on a concept that had been set up in Australia teaching children about the wonder of life - enabling them to make decisions about any negative influences that might impede the development of their fullest potential.

Nearly 20 years later, the Life Education Trust's mobile classrooms are booked out two years in advance at primary and intermediate schools throughout New Zealand - bringing a totally positive approach to health education to over 200,000 children each year. The Trust's mascot, Harold the Giraffe, has become the most recognized mascot by children in New Zealand - with 94% remembering who Harold is, and 86% remembering the messages he conveys.

And although the Life Education Trust employs 40 educators taking 19 different learning modules to primary and intermediate schools across New Zealand, there is still a huge unfulfilled demand for the Programme.

The donations raised at the 2007 Grocery Charity Ball will fund the construction of another mobile classroom for the Life Education Trust's use in its greatest area of need (Central Auckland), complementing the fleet of 40 mobile classrooms already on the road up and down the country.

Charity Ball has raised $1million+

Since the Grocery Charity Ball Trust was set up 5 years ago, over $1million has been raised for New Zealand Charities.

Established in late 2003, the Trust chose Cystic Fibrosis to be the beneficiary of its inaugural charity ball in 2004, and was thrilled at the response from the grocery industry which saw $100,000 raised on the night.

The Trust received over 50 applications from potential beneficiary trusts the following year, all deserving charities for the 2005 Ball. From the applicants, the Trustees selected Project K, and the 2005 Grocery Charity Ball raised $150,000 for this children's development trust.

In 2006, Cure Kids became the recipient of the Ball's fundraising, and the amount raised by the over 600 people who attended doubled to $300,000.

Believing that the 2006 figure would be difficult to eclipse, the Trustees were astonished when the 2007 Ball raised a staggering $500,000 for Life Education - enabling the Trust to fund two new mobile classrooms in the greater Auckland area.

"Although this year's donation of $150,000 to 0800 What's Up and Hearing Dogs For Deaf People is down on the previous couple of years," says Trust chairman Ross MacKenzie "It's still an excellent result in a recessionary economy. It's quite humbling for the Trustees to appreciate that the grocery industry has now donated $1.2million to 6 worthy charities in New Zealand."