2022 Support My Cause recipient: Auckland Women’s Refuge

A new initiative at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners New Zealand (CCEP NZ) is empowering its employees to make a difference in their community with a $10,000 charitable donation, through its new community funding, Support My Cause initiative.

Support My Cause encourages CCEP NZ employees to nominate a charitable organisation that is meaningful to them to receive a share of $30,000.

Information Assurance Manager, Brendan Podayko, nominated Auckland Women’s Refuge and said he chose to nominate the charity because everyone deserves to feel safe in their home.

“I feel very privileged to have been provided the opportunity by CCEP NZ, through Support My Cause, to gift this donation to Auckland Women’s Refuge. This organisation provides the necessary support for those women experiencing family violence to have control over what happens next.”

“The first step in dealing with domestic violence in an unsafe relationship, is getting help. Without the support of caring non-profit organisations like Women’s Refuge, many women would not have the ability to deal with their abuse,” says Podayko

1 in 3 women experience family violence in their lifetime and 167 women need a safe place to stay every night. Women’s Refuge is a non-profit organisation providing support for women and children who are experiencing family violence.

Finance Team Lead of Women’s Refuge, Donna Hill said that the donation from CCEP NZ will facilitate the charity’s important work through providing safe places, advocacy and education for victims of abuse.

“The support from CCEP NZ will help build capacity for Whanau Services in areas of counselling and workshops to develop skills to maintain a healthy relationship.

“Our families have hope, belief and courage that they can live violent free lives with the support of the community,” says Hill.

Click here to learn more about the fantastic work Women’s Refuge does and how you can support.