Can you give up a cup of coffee for a cause you love?

1 November 2019 - Sunrise Foundation Phil and Miriam web

Miriam and Phil Allan donate regularly to Wainui’s endowment fund at Sunrise through workplace giving at Miriam’s work. They have donated over $600 since joining the scheme, all for the price of a cup of coffee a week.

Miriam and Phil Allan have been involved with Wainui Surf Life Saving Club (Wainui) for 13 years after enrolling their daughters Bree and Lucy in nippers.

The girls took to it like ducks to water and Phil says “they absolutely love it. They compete locally and nationally and both girls lifeguard voluntarily over summer.”

Phil and Miriam have been impressed not only with the water safety skills they were taught, but also the valuable life lessons that come with being a member of the small family orientated club.

Phil added that “Bree and Lucy have learnt learn so much more than just water survival. They’ve learnt to give back. They get involved and help with all the fundraising the club does.”

For a couple that didn’t grow up in the surf club culture, Wainui is now a big part of their lives. Their business Gisborne Scaffolding is a sponsor and donates all scaffolding required around the club. Miriam is on the committee and Phil is the man on the mic at their annual bingo fundraisers, and on the paintbrush, painting the interior of the upstairs clubhouse when alterations were completed a few years back.

Miriam’s accounting background has benefited the club and she says the committee has worked hard to improve the clubs finances.

“We established the Wainui endowment fund a few years ago to ensure the hard work done by so many is protected for future generations. Whenever anyone donates time or money to the club, they are effectively giving to the entire community of people that use our beach. As a committee we respect that and want to be smart about making the most of the generous support we receive.”

Miriam works for Coates Associates, who have made Sunrise workplace giving available to their employees. She donates $15 each fortnight and says “it’s great because with workplace giving you get an immediate tax benefit. This means the government pays $5 of my donation and only $10 is deducted from my take home pay. I like that the government is effectively donating to the club too”.

With the support of the Sponge Bay, Wainui and Makorori communities, Wainui hopes to build a strong endowment fund, so in the future the club won’t be so reliant on grants.

Donate to Wainui's fund