New Zealand’s telecommunication companies have been working together for a very good cause.
Telecom, Vodafone, TelstraClear and 2 degrees have collaborated to help sick children and in doing so they have won the supreme awards at the 2010 Robin Hood Social Hero Awards.
The awards are in their fourth year and they are given in recognition of those New Zealand businesses who are helping to tackle social issues and put something back into the community. The companies have worked together on the Starship Mobile Phone Appeal that issues freepost envelopes to encourage people to send in mobile phones to Starship for recycling. $1.5 millon was raised for the hospital’s Air Rescue Service. Not only did the telecoms companies receive the Prime Minister’s Award but they also won the Health category.
Two of the companies – Telecom and Vodafone also jointly took the Building a Better Future category. Telecom received an award for its support of “What’s Up”, the young people’s help-line and the Vodafone Foundation received one for its partnership with the SAFE Network to reduce sex offending.
The Robin Hood Foundation has been working in partnership with businesses and non-profit making organisations for eight years and they view the ICT industry as leaders in their commitment to local communities in tackling social issues. The Social Hero Awards gives recognition to the work done.