A DELICIOUSLY EASY WAY TO DO SOME GOOD Gina Henry and Richard Cooke have been holding Pink Ribbon Breakfasts at their Auckland restaurant, Grangers Taphouse and Kitchen, for the past eight years. From fashion shows to silent auctions, their events have hosted hundreds of guests and they’ve raised more than $60,000 for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. But Gina says supporting this important cause doesn’t need to be an extravagant affair. She shares what they’re planning this year at their newest establishment, Wren Café.
“W
ith such high rates of breast cancer in New Zealand, we all know someone who’s been affected by this disease. That’s why we feel so connected to this cause and why it keeps drawing us in to give back. Wren had only been open a few months when Pink Ribbon Breakfasts were on last year. So, we decided to keep things simple by creating a special pink strawberry donut and giving the proceeds to BCFNZ. This year we’re aiming a bit higher with a brunch-inspired high tea at Wren. We love connecting with businesses in the area and Pink Ribbon Breakfast is the perfect way to engage. We’ll sell tickets for $40, which will get guests a high tea and glass of pink bubbles on arrival. Even though it’s a small café with only 30 seats, we know we can still make a difference – every little bit counts. We’ve found one of the easiest ways to fundraise is to hold a silent auction. We ask suppliers to donate prizes and
6
restaurantandcafé.co.nz
we always find them to be incredibly generous. The guests are also very kindhearted, we’ve been blown away by how much people give. Since COVID-19 has slammed our industry so hard, it would be easy to say, ‘not this year’. But for us, it’s about remembering why we are in this game in the first place – for the love of being hospitable. Hosting Pink Ribbon Breakfasts is a no-brainer. We get to build connections with our customers, it makes them feel like they’re doing good, it gets our brand out there, and we raise much-needed funds for a charity doing inspiring work.” Getting involved with Pink Ribbon Breakfast can be as big or small as you like and it’s an easy way to raise funds for life-saving research and patient support. Everyone who registers will receive a free host kit with information and goodies to get you started. Find out more at pinkribbonbreakfast. co.nz
