By Carly Williamson
A private donor is footing the bill for $12,000 after Hero Festival organisers failed to meet a Friday deadline to pay five charity groups.
The benefactor gave a guarantee that the groups would be paid the agreed 70 per cent of what they collected in donations during the
Hero Parade in Ponsonby Rd last month.
A spokesman for the charities, Keith Marshall, said the money plus interest would be paid by mid-June. "In view of the circumstances, we accepted the offer," he said. "We are just so thankful to get this all sorted out."
The five charity organisations benefiting are the Burnett Centre, Herne Bay House, the New Zealand Aids Memorial Court project, the Treatment Actions group and Body Positive.
The money will be used to support people with HIV.
Hero organisers are believed to be facing debts of more than $100,000, but project director Steve Berry-Smith said it was too early to state a figure.
Last week, Mr Berry-Smith appealed for more donations after the disappointing collection at the parade.
He said the amount raised was terrible.
The Hero Parade's cost of $300,000 was to have been covered by corporate sponsors, party ticket sales, merchandise and donations.
