AuCom staff raise $200,000 for Vanuatu

Staff at Christchurch Company AuCom Electronics have passed up the opportunity to share in a $200,000 cash prize from dairy products company Anchor, instead donating it to the people of Vanuatu.

AuCom CEO Brent Archer said a staff member, John O’Malley, had on his own initiative decided to rally his workmates, family and friends to try and win the ‘Anchor Families’ competition, with the resulting 110,000+ entries ultimately snaring the major prize.

“John and the rest of the winning ‘family’ were quite within their rights to share the money amongst themselves, but decided from the start if they won to donate it to the people of Vanuatu through World Vision.

“I’m extremely proud of John and the friends, staff, and families who supported this. It will make a major difference in Vanuatu as they recover from Cyclone Pam.”

The competition encouraged entrants to form ‘Anchor Families’ and get those members to enter unique codes from Anchor milk bottles online.

Archer said AuCom is a long term corporate supporter of World Vision, supporting community projects including one in Guntur, India that has benefitted over 1000 families.

Another AuCom employee, Andy Beale, raised a further $5000 for the cause by cycling the equivalent height of Mt Everest on a hill circuit near Little River on Banks Peninsula.

Riding a vintage ladies shopping bike, with 20 inch wheels and a single gear, Dr Beale traversed the route 16 times to reach 8848 m in elevation over 14 hours and 172 km.

“We’re just as proud of Andy’s efforts, although not as sure of his sanity,” said Archer.