Columbus Coffee sees red for charity

Red Nose Day is Cure Kids’ biggest fundraising appeal. Held in September each year, it’s a time when Kiwis across New Zealand come together to help fund big research for little lives. 

‘We’ve been supporting Cure Kids for quite a number of years now and it’s a charity that we are really proud to get behind,’ says Charlotte Cooper, the marketing co-ordinator for Columbus Coffee. ‘September sees all our 70-plus cafés get as RED-iculous as possible to raise money for Cure Kids. Customers can visit any of our cafés and teams during September to make a donation to Cure Kids or purchase a red nose, wrist band or pin.

‘On Red Nose Day itself (27th September), you’ll find our franchisees and their teams all round the country hosting special events such as raffles, high teas, bingo days, cookie decorating classes and competitions – all to raise funds for Cure Kids.

‘And we draw extra attention to the work that Cure Kids does by changing our takeaway coffee cups to a special design created by our gorgeous Cure Kids Ambassador, Eva. Eva’s only 8 years old, but she’s spent over half her life living at Starship and more recently battling the MRSA bug.’

Tiff Mitchell, Eva’s mother, says, ‘When you have a child born with a serious medical condition you always expect this to be what is putting their life at risk. With Eva, this was the reality until the day doctors came in to say she had MRSA. It meant she had to fight against this in her blood stream and on her body – it’s an ongoing battle that we never get on top of. The Cure Kids-funded research underway into MRSA bugs could potentially save my child’s life, it’s the gift of hope.’

Charlotte says, ‘Our franchisees are proud to come together and, by having some fun with their customers, raise funds to help Cure Kids help kids like Eva.’

The franchisors aren’t being left out, either. ‘The Columbus Coffee Support Office team will be cycling to raise funds for Cure Kids in a ‘Whacky Race’ in Auckland’s Takutai Square on Red Nose Day,’ Charlotte grins. ‘If you’d like to help by donating to our Columbus Coffee Whacky Race, please follow this link.’

According to the 2017 Survey of Franchising, almost a quarter of all franchises in New Zealand contribute over $100,000 each to charities every year.