Spirit of telethons rules as Holmes raises $2m

By EUGENE BINGHAM

It's the most money Paul Holmes has made without having to take his shirt off.

Sure, he was involved in telethons where millions were raised with the help of celebrities such as himself stripping off or singing to elicit pledges from the public.

But this week's Holmes show effort in raising money for the flood victims was something else.

From the moment the idea was conceived by Holmes producer Susan Baldacci late last week until Tuesday night when the 0900 donation line closed, the programme raised $2,026,000 which will be distributed to the Red Cross, Federated Farmers and the mayoral relief funds in the affected areas.

The money rolled in quickly - $100,000 was in the bucket in the first 10 minutes.

Cereal king Dick Hubbard, whose company gave $5000, said it was the images from the flood areas and the telethon-style, feel-good factor whipped up by the programme that made him pitch in.

Initially, said Mr Hubbard, he had not grasped the enormity of the disaster. But as he watched the images night after night, it brought back childhood memories of when he lived on a flood-prone farm near Paeroa.

"I still remember the despair on my father's face."

The Holmes appeal and its spirit of telethons moved him. "There was a little bit of patriotism."

Dianne Armstrong, president of the Fundraising Institute, said the way the fund grew so rapidly was a surprise, although it should not have been. "The New Zealand population gives more than anywhere else in the world - we are incredibly generous."

She did have some concerns about Holmes becoming involved in fundraising - will the programme step in the next time there is flooding or a disaster in the country? Will donors be able to claim tax rebates as they can if they contribute to charities?

But the $2 million raised was amazing, she said.

The Red Cross director-general, Flora Gilkison, said a trust chaired by Sir Ron Trotter had been set up to distribute the Red Cross flood funds - the money given by Holmes and the $320,000 raised through its own appeal.

The organisation would direct its funds at people in need rather than infrastructure.

Ms Gilkison said the Red Cross was not surprised that the flood disaster moved people to give so much.

"When we saw those vivid pictures and you could see how stricken people were, we knew people would donate."