To mark Giving Tuesday, The Entertainer will match fund the total raised by customers through Pennies donations across its stores today.
Photo: Emma Hollings Photography
Customers from The Entertainer, have raised over £1m for children’s hospitals and other children’s charities in the last two years alone, through its partnership with Pennies.
To celebrate Giving Tuesday today (29th November), The Entertainer will match fund the total of all monies raised by customers through donations across its stores.
Throughout the 11-year partnership, Pennies and The Entertainer have been working together to grow micro-donations for children’s charities and hospitals, providing customers of The Entertainer with simple, digital ways in-store to donate small amounts of money vital to the UK charity sector. For every product purchased in-store, customers are given the chance to round-up to the nearest pound, when paying by card or digital wallet at checkout; the money raised is then granted by Pennies to The Entertainer’s nominated children’s charities, including many regional children’s hospitals.
More than 2m individual micro-donations were made by customers at The Entertainer across 170 stores in the last two years of the pandemic, raising over £1m. This new income has made a vital difference to an incredible 289 charities, because it includes grants of £1,000 to small, localised charities nominated by stores – in an initiative called ‘Jack Gives Back’.
For children’s hospitals’ charities such as Bristol, The Entertainer’s customers’ generous donations have a huge impact on those it supports.
Helen Haskell of The Grand Appeal, based at Bristol Children’s Hospital, said: “You can’t really put into words the difference that [the money] makes for the children receiving treatment in Bristol Children’s Hospital. For instance, the money could fund one of our family accommodation units – somewhere for parents to stay completely for free for as long as they need.”
“At The Entertainer, we believe that business should be a force of good and through this partnership we’re really driving this belief forward,” commented Gary Grant, founder and executive chairman. “Our customers should feel enormous pride in the incredible amount that they have raised over the past year – it demonstrates that every penny really does count. We are so grateful to each and every one of our customers for the kindness they have shown through their individual donations.
He added: “We’ve been in partnership with Pennies for over 11 years, and each year it is lovely to see more and more of our customers sparing their pennies to support local children’s hospitals and other children’s charities across the UK. This year, we look forward to joining our generous customers as we pledge to match fund the Pennies donations made on Giving Tuesday across our stores.”
Alison Hutchinson CBE, CEO of Pennies, added: “Our long-running partnership with The Entertainer goes from strength to strength. Customers continue to give so generously – even in challenging times – proving that small, affordable giving chimes with current times.
“We are thrilled that The Entertainer is matching customers funds for Giving Tuesday; another gesture of generosity from a business that truly puts purpose at its heart. Thank you to everyone that contributes a few pennies where they can.”
For more information on The Entertainer, visit www.toyshop.com, and for further details on Pennies, head to www.pennies.org.uk.
