Fundraising efforts for Starship, marking iconic Café Melba on Vulcan15th Anniversary, raises beyond expected target

AUCKLAND, Friday 15th November 2011 – As part of the fundraising effort from the Melba Group to mark the opening of the iconic Café Melba on Auckland’s Vulcan Lane 15 years ago, $13,690.00 has been raised for Starship Hospital’s Starship Foundation.

With 50 cents from every cup of coffee sold last week at all five Café Melba & Melba Espresso Bar locations and an auction held mid this week for VIP guests, Shawn Pope, Co-Director for Melba Group, says everyone came through big time.

“The effort from customers, staff and suppliers was overwhelming. We also want to give a tremendous thanks to Danny Watson from Newstalk who acted as the auctioneer, motivating the audience for bids and to Lucy Lawless who on behalf of Starship, last Friday morning served coffee to surprised Café Melba on Vulcan customers.

Shawn says the auction came alive, with some Café Melba suppliers making some on the spot extra contributions to the auction. Altura Coffee Roasters donated a $1300 coffee machine. Elliot Brothers donated an extra case of rare wine and the owner of Kingsland Print was so motivated with the donating he offered 7 nights of accommodation in Cairns written up on a napkin, which sold for $540.