givealittle has launched a brilliant new initiative to recognise and reward someone who is in need of a helping hand as the recession bites in New Zealand.

The Wellington based social enterprise is giving away up to $10,000 to the friend in need, a family, a local school, favourite charity or community organisation that attracts the most ‘givers’ via its website.

‘Givealittle wants to know who you would like to give to, what you want to give and why it is deserved,’ says CEO Nathalie Hofsteede. ‘We have received a request from a woman wanting to replace stolen items from her elderly parents’ home, two parents wanting to shout their disabled child’s caregiver a trip home to Australia as thanks for years of hard work. It’s all wonderful stuff.’

Givealittle.co.nz will shortlist 10 submissions to become Givealittle Friends in Need projects and give the finalists advice about how to use the power of the web to reach a wider audience. Each page will have one month to gather a crowd of givers. The page with the largest number of givers (but not necessarily the most raised) will be given $1 for every giver up to a maximum of $10,000.

It’s about encouraging a crowd of people to give just a little to help make a big difference. Online submissions will be accepted until 5pm Friday 3 April 2009 at www.givealittle.co.nz/friendsinneed

Breastmates Specialty Breastfeeding Store is New Zealand’s leading online maternity store, and their usual business involves sending out bras and breatfeeding supplies around the world. But over the last couple of weeks the bras have been coming to them, all part of a drive to support women in Zimbabwe.

It all started when the Breastmates team was approached by Hot Milk, the maternity lingerie brand they stock, with a plea to help school girls and women in Zimbabwe who often do not own any underwear.

Breastmates’ Frances McInnes was happy to help, and is asking women to donate any of their preloved bras which will be collected up and sent to those in need.

The collection is called “Knickers for Africa” but Frances clarifies that only secondhand bras are being collected from the public. “We are also sending our end-of line knickers that are brand new, not secondhand ones.”

Frances has already started taking collections, through pamphlet drops in her neighbourhood, local community groups, and promotions on her website.

“I’ve been quite bombarded with bras already” she says, “every day there are a few more in the mail box and my postie must wonder what is going on!”

The collection is being run from February to March, when the bras will be shipped to women living in villages in Zimbabwe.

For more information go to www.breastmates.co.nz or call 0508 BREAST if you would like to donate.

The NZ Art Guild raised over $20,000 for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation of NZ (LBF) at Tuesday nights “Shave an Artist” Charity Art Auction and “Life” Exhibition.

This event saw 18 people walk away bald with top NZ artist Sofia Minson being first to shave her locks. Artists Jennifer Christiansen, Marimba Powley, Helen Sherrock, Sharlene Shcmidt, Juliet Cryns, Victoria Anderson closely followed along with friends and members of the public. Not only were fantastic artworks up for sale but so was the opportunity to shave MP Rodney Hide’s head. North Shore City Mayor Andrew Williams, who officially opened the event, won this opportunity with a bid of $200.

The concept behind this awareness campaign was sparked by Sofia Minson who was always impressed by LBF’s “Shave for a Cure” campaign. Sofia didn’t want to do this alone so approached the NZ Art Guild to see whether we could get a group of artists together to do it. From there the idea grew into an event which included 35 artists from all around NZ.

The money raised will help support the six New Zealand children and adults who are diagnosed with blood cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma every day. LBF receives no government funding yet provides essential support not only for those patients, but for their families - support that can last months, and even years.

The Exhibition is a celebration and appreciation of all facets of life. This theme was open to interpretation and some of the artworks are very personal as they have been inspired by artists own lives that have been touched in some way by Leukaemia or Blood disorders.

The exhibition runs until Friday 27th Feb at the Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna Beach, Auckland. 100% of the auctioned artworks price and 20% of the sale price of the exhibition artworks goes to LBF.

Without their generous sponsors this fantastic fundraising event wouldn’t have been possible so a huge bog thank yous to – Creative Communities, Media 41, Tineswari Maruthamuthu, Barfoot and Thompson, Crosscut hair design, Lee and Antonela, Corey Blackburn, Artistry Chamber Ensemble and Lion Nathan.

Check out pics from the night here.