When Corona Extra came to the Piha Surf Life Saving Club in West Auckland late in 2014 with an ambitious idea, neither parties could have envisaged the results that followed.
“Corona Extra has always been closely aligned to the surf community, so when we heard that the club was on a drive to raise funds for an important redevelopment, we approached the club with the idea to bring the two surfing icons of Piha and Corona Extra together – to create something very special,” says Stephanie Scard of Corona.
After setting up a temporary deck and pop-up bar, all profits from the food and drinks served were donated back to the club, as well as proceeds from a very special auction. Over $25,000 was raised towards a redevelopment of their facilities.
The successful Corona Extra curated ‘NZ Perspectives’ exhibition showed the work of ten globally recognised surf, travel and lifestyle photographers, and these pieces were later individually auctioned off to keen bidders via Trade Me. The total amount raised through the exhibition was $5,320.
Peter Brown, from the Piha Surf Life Saving Club, says: “This summer really has been epic. From the building of the Corona deck, pop-up bar and NZ Perspectives exhibition – to seeing the people turn up to the club, wanting to be part of this journey.”
“Not only has this project provided the Piha community with a taste of what’s to come for our club, it’s also provided the wider area with some enjoyment too.”
“The money raised will be used to provide us with the boost we need to carry out essential work at the club, so we can continue to save lives.”
“Some time in the future, once we have raised all the required money, people will see the new extension to our club. There will be a new emergency boat shed at the front and a new upstairs life guard operational room to better manage our beach and co-ordinate rescues. There will also be an extension to the front of the club to allow more room for members and guests.”
“We would like to thank everyone involved with this amazing project – the people at Corona, the photographers who donated their work, and the people who took the time to visit the Corona Deck and bid on the photography.
The auction winners can feel great about owning an amazing piece of New Zealand coastal photography, while knowing they’ve raised money for a very worthwhile cause.”
