Big hearts, great music, good result

19 November 2009

The New Zealand music industry has raised more than $70,000 for the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust at a charity gala auction in Auckland on Saturday night (Nov. 14).

The funds will go towards operating costs for the Auckland-based trust's therapy centre for children with special needs. The centre receives no statutory funding and the trust needs to raise $400,000 each year to keep it running.

Top bid on the night was $13,000 for a cocktail party for 20 guests at Auckland bar and restaurant Sale Street, with entertainment from RMTC Ambassador Hollie Smith. The highest bid in a concurrent silent auction was $7,500 for a signed Billy Joel poster.

Other highlights of the night were:

• $9,000 paid for original artwork from Flying Nun's 25^th Anniversary CDs
• A Big Day Out package that raised $5,000
• Lunch with rugby doyen Colin Meads that fetched $4,750
• A guitar singed by Alice Cooper, which raised $4,500.

Hosted by Oliver Driver, the evening featured donated performances by a range of musicians including The Mint Chicks, Opensouls Acoustic, Simon Oscroft and Jeremy Redmore from Midnight Youth and singer/songwriter Anna Coddington together with the Masque Vocal Ensemble.

And for the greybeards, Hello Sailor made a special appearance following the band's successful gig with The Who in March.

Retiring trust chair Campbell Smith says the money raised is vital for achieving the aims of the centre.

"The trust is self-funding and relies on the generosity of a wide range of friends and family - together with a dedicated staff - to achieve its goals of providing first class music therapy.

"Once again the music industry and supporters have opened their hearts and their wallets for the cause and we are very, very grateful for their support for what is a crucial service for so many families."

It is the sixth year New Zealand musicians and friends have come together in support of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre.

The centre works with more than 100 children each week, either at its premises in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn or in the Outreach programmes it runs with schools.

Issued for the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre by Pead PR

Contact:

Dianna Vezich, Pead PR, Tel: 0-9-918 5577; Mob: 021 983 960; e-mail: dianna@peadpr.co.nz