Koru Care (NZ) is a registered charitable trust. Our volunteer team work for no financial reward, donating time and expertise to make dreams come true for kids who have drawn the short straw. In some cases they have cancer, kidney disease or heart problems, in other cases they have lost the use of their limbs or have serious congenital abnormalities. But they still have the capacity to smile, laugh and create good memories; they just need someone to wave the magic wand. Often, an injection of enjoyment helps to change a child’s outlook, which can improve day-to-day life. In making dreams come true for sick and disabled kids, we’re also helping their families.
Koru Care is well known for delivering dreams in the form of memorable overseas trips. We have annual trips to California – USA and Gold Coast – Australia which are the dream destinations that we have focused on. Each group consists of 26 children and 15 caregivers with each caregiver assigned 2 children.
The USA trip is 2 weeks in duration and the Gold Coast is for 8 days. The children that participate on the Koru Care Gold Coast Adventure are generally chosen as they are too ill to handle the long distance travel to California or the long days that this trip has.
Closer to home we put on events for the children with our annual pantomime and Christmas Harbour Cruise and picnic. We also provide grants for the cost of flights for children that require medical treatment overseas that is not available in New Zealand.
The children who have benefited from Koru Care’s help and those who will benefit in the future are chosen because we’re their only chance of having a wish come true. For those with a real need, we make sure dreams become reality.
To make these dreams come true, Koru Care have a team of dedicated staff and volunteers that work tirelessly to make these events happen. We are not government funded and rely on the generosity of trusts, grants, businesses and the general public. We are a nationwide organisation and we accept children from all over New Zealand.
With a total cost per trip of approximately $169,000, Koru Care relies on support and generosity to make the trips possible. The rewards from the trips are immense, for the child, they have the opportunity to be a real kid for a few days, they can leave their worries at home while doing what every kid loves – to be a kid without restrictions.
Businesses can support through encouraging their staff to participate in a payroll giving programme, by holding events, by supporting other activities in the community held to support Koru Care. Businesses can also support through donating products or services that Koru Care can sell on auction. Individuals can hold events to raise funds, sponsor an individual child, or through a regular contribution.
Koru Care uses FundraiseOnline to help make giving easy, we also run online auctions through TradeMe. We also welcome suggestions on other ways to raise funds to help us make the Koru Care kids dreams come true.
All you need to do is fill in the donation form online for a quick and easy way to help our Koru Kids! All donations are greatly needed and appreciated. Koru Care thanks you for your support.