Good Shepherd New Zealand was this year’s charity partner for the Financial Services Federation (FSF) Women in Finance fundraising lunch. The event amplifies the voices and contributions of women working in Aotearoa’s financial services sector. Generous support from attendees this year means the event will also amplify the strength and wellbeing of women rebuilding their lives after harm and hardship. 

The fund we use to provide small grants to women, girls and their families alongside our service delivery has been generously bolstered by the FSF Women in Finance luncheon. Every cent of money donated to this fund is passed along to women and girls whose life circumstances are holding them down. 

“It feels especially good to know that a room full of women lifting each other up in their industry will translate to women lifting themselves and their families out of impossible choices, towards safety, wellbeing and connection.” — Emma Saunders, CEO of Good Shepherd NZ

The event was masterfully emceed by Petra Bagust, and featured raffle tickets, an auction, and insightful discussion by Kerry Boielle, CEO of TSB, and Vittoria Shortt, CEO of ASB. Many hands were raised to bid on auction items, and some were raised to offer spontaneous personal donations or contribute on behalf of organisations. 

Donations will help Good Shepherd support women working to free themselves from hardship, and/or economic harm relating to family violence. Sometimes a small grant can be the thing that keeps someone safe, gives them a break, or makes the difference between spiralling down and looking ahead.  

For example, we have provided a small grant to:

• Buy groceries for a mum of seven leaving a violent relationship, while we worked alongside her to address the impact of economic abuse
• Enable car repairs for a woman who needed her car to get to cancer treatments
• Pay a $16 road toll bill, which meant a police officer could get a no-interest car loan to transport her child with special needs
• Buy a fridge for the mum of a baby and toddler leaving a violent relationship, who was forced to live on takeaways in an empty house
• Pay rent arrears for a woman who was going to be evicted, preventing homelessness and enabling her to become employed.

Congratulations to the Financial Services Federation for hosting a truly special event, full of talented women being real and building each other up. Your team is small, but it is also mighty! We are so fortunate to be your partner charity in a year when the Women in Finance event raised more than double the amount of the previous year. 

These few hours of connection, inspiration and celebration will bring relief and opportunity in times when good news is hard to come by. Thank you to everyone who gave through the event — your contribution has energised us and will make a real difference in helping women, girls and their families be safe, well, strong and connected.