Going, going, gone! Two G.J. Gardner Homes – one in Hamilton and one in Pukekohe - went under the hammer and have sold with all profits and capital gains going to Big Buddy - a New Zealand charity that partners fatherless boys with a positive male role model.

G.J. Gardner Homes started offering national support to Big Buddy in 2015 which inspired the Franklin/Papakura and Hamilton/Waikato franchises to build houses and raise money for Big Buddy. By donating all of the profits and capital gains from the houses Big Buddy are able to support the new offices in South Auckland and Waikato

While the details are still being confirmed, as the Pukekohe house is under conditional sale, it looks like G.J.Gardner will be donating upwards of $280,000 to Big Buddy as a result of the auctions.

 “We are thrilled with the result and know that Big Buddy are too. The auctions created a great opportunity for our local franchises to get on board with supporting a charity that we have chosen to support at head office level and they have done an amazing job.”  G.J. Gardner Homes National Franchisee, Ellie Porteous

The project was 12 months in the making and a long list of suppliers and local trades helped to keep the costs down to ensure the profits were high. This included donations and reduced costs from: Huntly Joinery who donated the windows and kitchens and, Harcourt’s in Hamilton and Barfoot and Thompson in Pukekohe who marketed the properties pro bono.

Big Buddy Chair and Trustee Travis Field says: “We are blown away by the donation, not only was it huge in terms of the money donated, but also in regard to time and energy invested from a massive group of people. From the builders and other trades, to the real-estate agents, to the franchisees, to the suppliers, everyone has done what they can to give fatherless boys an opportunity to be mentored.”

Big Buddy has opened new branches in South Auckland and Hamilton based on the relationship with G.J. Gardner Homes. The proceeds will not only cover these intended costs, but it will enable the organisation to increase the number of Big Buddies available to children in these two areas. They add to the already established branches in Auckland and Wellington; staff plan for further expansion into other regions in the not too distant future. 

To become a big buddy or to donate head to www.bigbuddy.org.nz.