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The Crown Foundation’s Modus Operandi
April 2009
Over the years The Crown Group has consistently made donations to various charities. The formation of The Crown Foundation in June last year crystallises the group’s philanthropic gestures and allows staff, clients and even the public to donate to a number of causes. Current benefactors include all the Crown Group companies including: Kudos Hospitality Ltd, Seasoned Events Ltd, Leisurextra Ltd, London House Restaurants Ltd, FOA Power Trading Ltd and Midsummer House Restaurants Ltd who last year in just 7 months raised £30,200 with the total charitable donations reaching £24,363.09 minus running cost payments to accounts auditors.
Already this year the Crown Foundation has raised £10,000 with Make a Wish, Hospice in the Weald and the Forces Children’s Trust being benefactors to some of the funds. Each of the Group’s companies will be conducting a coupler of local fund raising initiatives with a major Crown Group fundraising day as the year’s highlight.
Other Crown Foundation Beneficiaries
In 2008, our first year, not our first year of charitable donations, but the first year of the Foundation, beneficiaries included:
The Forces Children’s Trust
This Charity was set up to help dependant children that have a lost a parent whilst serving with the Armed Forces. In June 2008 The Crown Foundation paid for 5 mothers and ten children to go to Casa Monte Cristo in Portugal for a weeks’ holiday. In September 2008 we took a further 4 mothers and 5 children. Pictures of the holiday can be found on the website www.forceschildrenstrust.org then go into gallery. In August 2009 another 6 mothers and 12 children will be going.
Children With Leukaemia
This charity funds research into causes and treatments supports families through welfare programmes and campaigns on their behalf.
Instead of sending Christmas Cards or presents to clients in 2007 & 2008, the Group decided to donate the £5,000.00 to CWL.
Make A Wish Foundation
This Charity grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses. It was founded in June 1086 and since then they have granted over 5,300 wishes. Their aim is to grant 21 wishes a week by the year 2010.
The Marines Welfare Trust
The Foundation has donated 5 holidays to Casa Monte Cristo in Portugal for bereaved and injured families serving in Iraq. This year there will be 2 injured Marines and their families and 3 bereaved families visiting Casa Monte Cristo between the months of April – September 2009.
Other Charities
The Event Hire Company donated all the catering equipment to Action Against Hunger for their inaugural SUBWAY Picnic Rocks at Clapham Common Bandstand on Saturday 5th July 2008 which raised over £55,000.00. This Charity aims to fight hunger and malnutrition. With the current food crisis and the recent cyclone disaster in Bangladesh resources are needed more than ever.
The Event Hire Company also donated all the furniture, kitchen equipment, cutlery and crockery to Action Against Hunger – Critics Dinner to celebrate their annual Restaurants Against Hunger campaign where they hosted their infamous Too Many Critics event at the Royal Exchange. At the event renowned critics including Bill Knott, Charles Campion, Nick Lander, Jay Rayner, Tracey Macleod, Tom Parker-Bowles and Lucas Hollweg amongst numerous others, laid down their pens and donned their chef whites to cook dinner for a plethora of foodie guests whilst all of their culinary labours are filmed for all to see on live TV screens.
Furthermore, The Event Hire Company donated all the furniture to the Lady Taverners Summer Garden party.
In Dagenham a children’s football club received a donation in order that they could buy new football kit for their players. This is being repeated in 2009.
A local youth Centre in Hornchurch were provided with Air Hockey Table.
Broomfield NHS Hospital in Chelmsford and St. Francis Hospice were given auction items for the fundraising events.
Every year Piggotts lavishly decorates the children’s ward with Christmas lights at Broomfield Hospital allowing children who have to be in hospital over the festive season something to look at whilst awaiting Father Christmas.
East London Cabbies organise a day trip for disadvantaged children. Every year the Crown Foundation supports them by paying for 2 London cabs to take disabled and disadvantaged children to the seaside for the day.
Give Tilly a Hand campaign. Parents of a 2 year old who lost her hands and toes to meningitis in 2007 and need to raise £60,000.00 a year to provide her with prosthetic hands.
Crowlands Infant School who received a case of wine for their Christmas Fete together with a bottle of champagne for their Summer Fete.
Hilldene School who received a case of wine for their Christmas Fete.
Hospice in the Weald at North Weald
Mayor of Harrogate – Carers Resource & Harrogate Hospital and Community Friends.
Little Haven Hospice, Brentwood, where at the Headley we raised money by undertaking a quiz night.
Lady Taverners by donating auction prizes of dinner for 8 people at Midsummer House.
National Union of Teachers by donating disabled ramp for the toilet
Funding of toilet and new pathway at St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Church in Stondon Massey.
On 26th July 2009 The Crown Foundation sponsored by The Crown Group we undertake a day at Cartier Polo where the Crown Group has agreed to match any donations made on the day and to show off to some of our partners and sponsors the charities that we help.
“We want to make a significant contribution in our communities. Through the generosity and hard work of our employees and associates, we anticipate that our Foundation will provide support to many charities in the years ahead” concludes Charles Beer, Chief Executive The Crown Group.