Countdown is strengthening its support for RainbowYOUTH, with an aim to fundraise $100,000 this week for the organisation to continue its work supporting queer, gender-diverse and intersex rangatahi.
Countdown is a long-time partner of RainbowYOUTH, and the fundraiser is part of the supermarket’s ongoing commitment to the Rainbow community in Aotearoa.
Countdown’s Managing Director, Spencer Sonn, says that the 22,000 strong Countdown team are excited to be getting behind RainbowYOUTH’s important work with fundraising this week.
“We’re proud to have supported RainbowYOUTH for a few years now and we hope that customers will get involved by rounding up their in-store purchases at checkout. We absolutely understand that not everyone will be in a position to donate, but every little bit really does add up. To kick things off, we’ll be chipping in $20,000 too.”
“At Countdown, we prioritise celebrating the incredible diversity we have in our teams and communities, and we want anyone who walks through our doors at any time of year to feel included and welcome. That’s why we work with organisations like Rainbow Tick and RainbowYOUTH to hold ourselves accountable to this commitment” says Sonn.
Pooja Subramanian, Executive Director at RainbowYOUTH explains that the partnership with Countdown provides them with vital funds each year. “Our partnership with Countdown raised almost $100,000 last year and that support has helped us to continue providing support, information, and resources to more than 550 rainbow young people across Aotearoa. We are excited to work with them again in 2023 and every dollar helps.”
Customers can donate to RainbowYOUTH at any Countdown store from today until 23 April by choosing to round-up their total to the nearest dollar at the checkout.
Countdown is a Rainbow Tick accredited organisation, and as one of New Zealand’s largest employers, is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. This year, in addition to helping support RainbowYOUTH, Countdown has sponsored $8,000 in scholarships through the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust, donated $5,000 to Auckland Pride, has sponsored the Tauranga Moana Pride Picnic and has also supported volunteers at Big Gay Out and Rainbow Parade with snacks and drinks.
