If you were to pop into one of BestStart’s 259 Centres this March, you’d be in for a treat: witnessing the joy of hundreds of excited tamariki and their families savouring something sweet from a bake sale, buying raffle tickets for fun prizes, creatively colouring-in butterfly outlines, enjoying music and movement with a Plunket nurse, or even ‘sliming their teachers’.
The month is a buzz of unique activities, and it’s all for a good cause – BestStart's Butterfly Appeal.
BestStart has been a Plunket partner for more than ten years. And over the course of that decade, the very clear, shared mission to make sure tamariki across Aotearoa have the best possible start in life has truly been put into action. Plunket focuses on children’s health and wellbeing, while BestStart is dedicated to tamariki early education and development, together making sure those first five years set them up for life.
BestStart Centres across the motu are hives of activity during March's Butterfly Appeal
The annual BestStart Butterfly Appeal has become a much-loved highlight of this partnership and on the calendar; it brings each Centre closer to their families and to their local communities through the goal of fundraising for Plunket.
The funds that the Appeal raises for Plunket’s services mean more families across Aotearoa will be able to access vital healthcare and community support.
Even before their child's early education journey begins, BestStart shares helpful, practical resources to support whānau as they explore their options, like with their Choosing an Early Learning Centre for Your Baby brochure. Plunket Nurses and kaimahi are also able to use BestStart centre facilities to help families access services such as B4 School Checks, Well Child Checks and immunisations. The result is a one-stop shop of wraparound, expert and efficient care for our youngest New Zealanders, particularly important for vulnerable families in communities that need a little extra help.
Says Tony Ryall, CEO, “The BestStart Butterfly Appeal is the signature of our strong strategic partnership; the funds we raise each March have a measurable, positive effect on local communities across Aotearoa, so we want to keep growing it, keep it going strong for generations.”
Tony Ryall (left) and Plunket's CE, Fiona Kingsford (right) celebrating the BestStart Butterfly Appeal's achievements last year, at the Howick Centre.
Last year, the Butterfly Appeal raised an impressive $91,000. This year, BestStart’s passionate team is setting their sights even higher with an impressive $100,000 goal.
Each Centre is encouraged to raise as much as possible in a friendly competition. But this year, the BestStart team have thought of another way to help reach $100k: funky T’shirts for little ones! The cute designs are perfect for play, while also offering another way to support the appeal beyond sponsoring a Centre or donating online.
Through a partnership that is embedded at every level of the organisations, BestStart and Plunket extend their collective reach, creating a more connected experience across health, education and community services and advancing their shared kaupapa of making a positive difference for children, whānau and communities across Aotearoa.
You can help this continue by attending Centre events or donating online to support this year's BestStart Butterfly Appeal goal of $100,000.
