Benefitz Gets In Behind The Stellar Trust Initiative

Sep 1, 2009

BENEFITZ has thrown its support behind the Stellar Trust, an organisation that has been set up by the Rotary Club of Auckland East to address the side effects on society of methamphetamine – the drug “P”.

The Stellar Trust kicked-off with a black-tie fundraising dinner at SkyCity in mid-May, featuring a celebrity roast of broadcaster Paul Holmes, whose daughter has struggled with P addiction. Over 350 people attended the dinner when Paul Holmes was roasted by Jim Hopkins, Tim Shadbolt, Gary McCormick, Tom Scott and Ginette McDonald.

Benefitz plans to provide ongoing support for the trust and this started with printed items for this dinner. Benefitz printed free of charge over 100,000 flyers to promote the event as well as pull-up display units and signage and banners for the evening. The company has also produced business cards and stationery for the Trust.

“P is a massive problem for society so we want to help in any way we can to eliminate it,” says Benefitz Managing Director Aidan Bennett. “What Alistair Burry and his fellow trustees have initiated is fantastic and we will be providing them with ongoing support.”

The main objective of the trust is to raise money from grants and fundraising activities to fund programmes that will in time lead to a major reduction in the usage of P, particularly by younger people. The trust has Principal Family Court judge Peter Boshier as its patron and an advisory board including former Auckland Grammar School headmaster John Graham and Auckland Crown Solicitor Simon Moore.

This deceptive and very addictive drug has no social boundaries. It is the modern day plague causing major damage throughout all layers of our society. Courts are seeing a major increase in violent crime as a consequence of P usage. The resulting destruction in the family unit causes a domino effect on the most innocent of victims, our children. They are becoming collateral damage of a scourge, the likes of which the world has never seen.

The Stellar Trust aims to foster a change in New Zealand society’s attitude and behaviour towards the drug P – for the public to say “Enough – usage of P must stop!” There is no one “silver bullet” that will produce the desired outcome overnight. However it is intended that funds will be used to provide: Education programmes run in secondary schools by qualified people on the perils of P; Education programmes for the parents of young people, to help recognize the dangers and signs of P addiction and how best to help their children through the problems; Hold community “road shows” to educate the broader community on the harmful effects of P.; Increasing awareness of the drug in businesses including specific programmes aimed at retailers of the chemicals used in the manufacture of P.; Producing publications and DVDs on the drug, for sale or distribution as widely as possible throughout the community; Hold public awareness marketing campaigns to get the public behind the trust’s objectives, with the support of media organisations.; The trust has initiated engagement with local and central Government to ensure that all parties’ strategies to fight the use of the drug are harmonised and effective.

Visit: www.stellartrust.co.nz

News Archive >>