PledgeMe success highlights support for kaumātua

RKCT trustees (from left) Hoki and Owen Purcell, and CEO Rangimahora Reddy.

Almost 600 people have pledged to Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust's (RKCT) crowdfunding campaign, which has successfully reached its $100,000 target.

The Hamilton organisation raised $103,000 from 582 pledgers when its PledgeMe campaign closed at 9pm on Sunday.

RKCT provides a range of health, social, educational, cultural, recreational, housing and transport support services to kaumātua.

RKCT chief executive officer Rangimahora Reddy says she would love to give a huge mihi to everybody who pledged or shared the PledgeMe campaign over the past month.

"It's because of their generosity and efforts we're able to get Stage 1 of our facility renovation under way. While the entire stage will cost $800,000, we'll be able to create better bathrooms for our kaumātua with the money we've raised so far. For some, that may not seem important.
"But for somebody who's older, accessibility in those spaces is really important and it's our priority."

Mrs Reddy said PledgeMe had provided a major realisation on how RKCT is perceived both locally and nationally.

"It's shown us the community cares about what we care about, and it's really nice to know there's such a lot of support out there for both kaumātua initiatives and Rauawaawa as an organisation."

"We accept our project isn't the trendiest or most fashionable, so it was wonderful to have over 500 people pledge and tautoko this cause. It shows me we do have support in the community, and they do value kaumatua and the work we do here.

"A whole lot of meanings have come out of achieving this goal."

RKCT is donating 10 percent of its pledges to eight local organisations who have supported Rauawaawa in the past. The groups are Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa, Go-Eco (Kaivolution), Te Whakaruruhau Waikato Women's Refuge, Rhode St School, Crawshaw School, The Serve, Kirikiriroa Marae and RKCT's IronMaori roopu.

"We're excited that we can acknowledge eight worthy groups who came on this journey with us. For a community organisation who is often on the receiving end of resources, it's such a powerful and beautiful space to be in to be able to give something to a group you know is working just as hard as you to serve the community.

"We would not have had the courage to undertake crowdfunding had it not been for the amazing training and support from PledgeMe and Maori Women's Development Inc.

"Being part of the inaugural Tā Koha Bunch, with 10 other Māori organisations nationwide has been a real privilege for Rauawaawa."