Look To The Stars News: KidsCan Charitable Trust

New Zealand All Blacks Announce Charity Partnership

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:30:00 -0000

They may have bowed out earlier than expected in last year’s World Cup, but New Zealand’s national rugby team, the All Blacks, have proved that they are still at the top of their game after two wins against England in the last two weeks, and a veritable annihilation of Ireland the week before that. And now the world famous squad – who are well known for their charity work – have announced their official charity for the next three years.

The partnership with KidsCan was announced at a special event at a South Auckland school earlier today that saw team member Ali Williams handing out raincoats to raise school attendances.

“We are really proud to have KidsCan as the official charity of the All Blacks,” said team captain Richie McCaw. “The team is keen to support organizations that help more New Zealand kids be healthy and happy.”

The charity – founded three years ago by Julie Helson and Carl Sunderland after their research project showed that wet weather gear, good shoes and a lack of food were the main factors that stopped children from attending school – replaces Save the Children as the team’s official charity. KidsCan said they hand out over 240,000 meals to low-decile New Zealand school children every year.

“The association with the All Blacks will raise the profile of KidsCan so that every household in New Zealand is aware of how significant the issue of child poverty has become,” said Helson. “There are thousands of Kiwi kids going to school cold and hungry and this has a major impact on their ability to learn. There are too many children in New Zealand who are missing out on basic needs we take for granted. For us as a charity it’s what we do – it’s about giving them a hand up.”

The charity hopes the All Blacks’ endorsement will help them expand and meet the needs of the 17,000 children on their waiting list.

Sex And The City Star Voices Concern Over Hungry Children In New Zealand

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:36:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Sex and the City boy toy Jason Lewis has been busy running around the globe promoting the much-anticipated film, but he hasn’t lost sight of what’s really important – helping to raise money and awareness for those in need of our help.

In April, Lewis was in New Zealand on a charity visit for the KidsCan Charitable Trust. He hosted the charity party for KidsCan, and also auctioned off a private breakfast to raise funds for the organization.

And he strongly adheres to the belief that celebrity and politics do mix.

“I’m not a brain surgeon, I’m not curing cancer, but if I can show up and do an interview and that is going to raise awareness and someone’s going to give more money to the hardworking people of this charity, great,” says Lewis. “I think it is the best use of celebrity that is out there. You look at Bono. He is kicking arse over most of the politicians.”

He also spoke out against New Zealand Labour MP Parekura Horomia’s remarks about children who are missing breakfast in order to lose weight.

“That is one of the more ignorant statements I have ever heard out of a politician’s mouth,” Lewis said. “They are children, they’re hungry. What kid’s trying to diet to go to school? [It’s] really ridiculously ignorant. Someone should vote you out.”

When Lewis was done ripping on the MP, he commented on his personal inspirations. “When I was young people were famous for doing something, and now fame in itself is its own commodity, and not for the greatest reasons, the role modeling is getting very obscure. They are seeing so much crap and they’re identifying with it. My heroes were like Paul Newman and Steven Spielberg, and these guys are really something special – not like the Britneys and Paris Hiltons.”

Look To The Stars News: KidsCan Charitable Trust

New Zealand All Blacks Announce Charity Partnership

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Sex And The City Star Voices Concern Over Hungry Children In New Zealand

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