Business raises $40k for Lifeline
Hawke’s Bay’s Supreme Business of the Year Laser Plumbing & Electrical Napier has raised $40,000 for suicide prevention from a charity golf day and auction event.
Laser Napier’s business development manager Reihana Manaena was “blown away and extremely humbled” by the final fundraising total, which will be given to national organisation Lifeline Aotearoa.
“This is our third annual fundraising event and our first with Lifeline. We are thrilled to be able to hand over $40,000 to an organisation that is saving one life at a time, one day at a time, one call at a time.
“Suicide is a big issue that has a major impact on our local community. New Zealand has one of the highest suicide rates in the world and as an employer we want to ensure that our staff and their wha¯ nau can pick up the phone and talk to a qualified counsellor, should they ever need support,” he said.
Mr Manaena said he and fellow director Paul Manaena decided to “go all-out” to celebrate the official opening of their new business premises in Onekawa, Napier, combining their annual charity golf day with a charity auction.
“We’ve held successful charity golf days over the last couple of years but we wanted to change it up and also have a charity auction and some local entertainment to celebrate the investment we’ve made to mark the opening of our new premises.
Craig Smith from the Harcourts Hawke’s Bay team was the auctioneer, while entertainment was provided by a local kapa haka group, Rezpect Dance Academy, 80/20 Music and Groove Foundation while food was designed by celebrity chef Henry Heke.
Paul Manaena said connecting to the community through various groups, businesses and people was at the centre of the events success.
“The money raised will help support Lifeline to operate their service but is not the fundamental factor that will decrease the ever-growing suicide rate.
“We need to address core issues like social, money, work and relationship pressures and give people tools to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
“This is conversation topic that needs to continue so that we can find out what is hindering our full enjoyment of life as Kiwis.
“We are absolutely delighted to hear of this result from the fantastic team at Laser Plumbing & Electrical Napier,” Lifeline Community Fundraiser Debbie Greenfield said.
“This will make such a difference to our callers. In fact, it means that we can cover the cost of answering 1600 calls providing helpline support for those who need it the most,” she said.
“The entire Lifeline team
want to thank Laser Napier for organising the fundraiser and all the other local businesses that supported the event. You are showing what can be achieved when caring organisations recognise that listening saves lives.”
Two of the auction items raised $9100. A Fender guitar signed by the Rolling Stones fetched $4600 and a Masters golf flag from the US Masters signed by golfing legends such as Tiger, Scott, Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Faldo, Spieth and many more went for $4500. Laser Electrical and Plumbing Napier won the Pan Pac 2017 Hawke’s Bay Business of the Year award, with the judges commenting that it was not just about how well the business is performing financially but how they looked after their staff and how it got involved in the community.