Hosking and 180 ice-creams

Media personality Mike Hosking has been praised as a ‘‘wonderful man’’ after his radio show donated $2000 to a Wellingtonbased charity and rewarded a school with a visit from Mr Whippy.

Room 9 students at St Theresa’s Catholic School nominated their school volunteer Jess Anderson and the charity she runs, Foster Hope, for a Newstalk ZB and ASB Good As Gold award late last month .

After being selected for the weekly award, Hosking called Anderson to tell her the good news live on the radio last month.

‘‘I was elated, I was shocked, I was just stunned,’’ Anderson said. ’’I was very teary.’’

Although she was usually too busy to listen to Mike Hosking’s show, Mrs Anderson said she appreciated the contribution he was making.

‘‘He is a wonderful man if he wants to give us $2000.’’

The funds will go towards creating backpacks of essential items to give to foster kids in the Wellington region.

The money was not the only gift announced on Friday.

To the delight of excited students at St Theresa’s Catholic School a Mr Whippy truck turned up and gave away ice-creams to them all.

‘‘The sound of 180 children screaming was incredible,’’ Anderson said.

‘‘The kids were just thrilled.’’