Repco Australia raises more than $50,000 for Starlight Day.
Friday 1 May, 2020 was Starlight Day, an annual fundraising event developed by the Starlight Children’s Foundation (SCF) to help seriously ill and hospitalised children, and their families. Despite the many challenges posed by a very different and challenging climate this year, Repco Australia pivoted the style of their usual fundraising efforts and still raised $52,500 for the SCF, by donating $1 from every transaction from May 1-3.
Repco, a long-time and very proud partner of the SCF, developed a support campaign that spanned both their Retail and Trade business channels. By pre-promoting their fundraising intent and reaching out to hundreds and thousands of consumers via email and a digital media campaign, they pledged to donate $1 from each transaction over the three-day period of May 1 to 3, 2020. Whilst the initiative was initially capped at $40,000, a further $12,500 was raised by a network of over 320 Repco stores across Australia, in addition to a separate donation from a generous supplier.
The total donation of $52,500 made a significant impact on SCF’s $250,000 target, of which they only just fell short of.
Repco stores have a successful history of rallying behind Starlight Day each year by transforming their stores into Starlightlike environments to improve awareness to the SCF’s cause and of course, raise much needed funds. Repco team members dress up in the signature Starlight shade of purple, they add theatre in-store by wearing fancy-dress costumes, they merchandise stores with SCF products, including counters and shelves, which are transformed into Starlight colours. Due to current community restrictions, even though team members were unable to bake and sell to fundraise this year, that is usually something they enjoy going the extra mile to do too. Team members did still dress up and significantly contribute to the overall success of the day.
Executive General Manager, Repco Australia, Wayne Bryant, explained “I congratulate our team for their great effort in getting behind Starlight Day this year given the difficult circumstances. These are tough times for everyone, including our team members. Yet, despite the challenges of social distancing, I am very proud that Repco was still able to find an innovative way to celebrate Starlight Day in 2020.”
Additional praise for Repco’s efforts was summarised by SCF CEO, Louise Baxter, who thanked Repco, its employees, suppliers and customers for their support.
“During times like these, sick kids in hospital still need fun and happiness to help them cope with the solitude and fear they face. At Starlight, we know happiness matters to a sick child’s development and the work we do to support them in children’s hospitals nationally is only made possible through community support. Every dollar makes a lasting difference, and we’re so thankful for Repco’s ongoing support,” expressed Baxter.
Over the past four years, Repco has raised close to $350,000 for the SCF. Support and fundraising have included but not limited to: Annual Starlight Day activations (in-store, online, Support Office locations), Hospital visits, Repc Support Office events, the selling of SCF merchandise, Team and Staff donations, Battery recycling program donations, and support of the infamous Larapinta Trek. Repco looks forward to continuing to support SCF in any way possible so that together, the organisations can bring even more happiness and support to sick kids and their families.