Argos and Homebase have raised £4.3m for the Teenage Cancer Trust over a 33-month partnership – more than twice the original target of £2m.
The original target was reached half way through the two-year partnership and they then agreed to extend the partnership by nine months, taking it up to February 2013.
Argos and Homebase, employees have carried out a range of fundraising activities including a dating event based on the ITV1 Take Me Out programme, a naked calendar and an ‘I love Argos’ sponsored tattoo. Nearly £500,000 was raised through customer donations and Argos also sold pin badges and a bracelet to raise money.
Terry Duddy, chief executive of Home Retail Group (the parent company of Argos and Homebase) said: “We are extremely proud of the lasting legacy we’ll leave through our partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust. The charity really struck a chord with our people across the group, who’ve gone the extra mile to raise money that will make a real difference.”
The companies’ previous charity partner was British Heart Foundation, for which they raised £3m over two years.
As well as donations, the company made gift-in-kind donations such as website photography worth more than £100,000. The partnership also led to young cancer patients being offered work experience at Argos TV and being involved in opening new stores.
Simon Davis, chief executive of the Teenage Cancer Trust said: “When we first started this partnership we never imagined the huge impact Home Retail Group would ultimately have.”
The money raised has contributed towards building ten new Teenage Cancer Trust units and maintaining the existing 12. Money raised by staff and customers in Ireland was put towards the construction of the first teenage cancer facility in the country.
Home Retail Group has already picked its next charity partner and will make an announcement in the next couple of weeks.
Read our exclusive case study about the Teenage Cancer Trust - Home Retail Group partnership to get more insight into how the partnership worked.
