By Tim Saunders on
Over 1,700 needy children in New Zealand came together last week for a special event with the national rugby team, the All Blacks.
All Black hero Ali Williams helped national charity KidsCan hand out its 50,000th raincoat to children from low income families in Auckland.
“Giving a child a raincoat is about so much more than just protecting them from the elements,” Williams said. "It’s about giving kids the resource and the confidence to go to school and enable them to stand tall, be proud and further their education, all of which will lead us towards a better New Zealand.
“I feel really strongly about supporting Kiwi Kids via KidsCan’s programs which really do help kids to realize their dreams and am honored to be here today to celebrate the 50,000th raincoat.”
KidsCan is a registered Charitable Trust which operates in New Zealand. They are dedicated to meeting the basic physical needs of financially disadvantaged children, leveling the playing field for them so they have the chance to reach their full potential. The organization’s StandTall program provides free Adidas raincoats to children in need around the country. New Zealanders can also directly sponsor Kiwi children living in poverty through the “In Our Backyard” program – a monthly $15 donation buys one child a raincoat, shoes, socks and food at school for one year.
“So far children in 172 low decile schools across the country have benefited from the Raincoats for Kids program and we are proud to have reached this milestone for Kiwi kids in our own backyard who are living in poverty,” said KidsCan StandTall CEO Julie Helson. "Every year in New Zealand hundreds of children are arriving at the school gates cold and wet or not at all and the raincoats we distribute have had a huge impact on children’s attendance levels at school.
“We are really happy to have the support of leaders such as Ali Williams, who are an inspiration to these children.”
Find out more about KidsCan here.
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