While fans anxiously await the next installment of the popular reggae and urban music festival, today the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust has been named as the official charity for Raggamuffin IX.
The Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre was established in by renowned Māori singer and songwriter Hinewehi Mohi who named the centre after her daughter, Hineraukatauri who has severe cerebral palsy.
The Trust provides music therapy to children and young people with special needs, and was selected this year from 17 charities who applied to be the official charity for the event.
For Raggamuffin VII and VIII, the festival supported the "Y For Youth" charity, and raised over $40,000 in funds from ticket sales, and more.
The Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust with receive one per cent of ticket sales as a donation with additional profile and fundraising opportunities available during the event.
The charity was chosen by a selection panel including Raggamuffin New Zealand representative Brotha D (Danny Leaoasavaii), Victim Support General Manager (Māori, Pacific and Ethnic Communities) Marama Royal, Ticketmaster General Manager Justin Pule and The Trusts Arena Chief Executive Brian Blake.
Brotha D said the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust stood out for the significant impact it has had on young people and their families. As well as being successful despite not being funded by Government.
“The Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust is a fantastic charity doing life-changing work with children and young people. We’re delighted they will be our charity for the 2016 event. Raggamuffin is committed to providing an exciting event with outstanding talent, but we’re also conscious of the community and as part of our social conscience we wanted to align with a charity and show our support in a very practical and positive way."
“As a charity established to use music to help support and assist the growth and development of children with special needs, alignment with an event such as Raggamuffin is an ideal fit for us,” says Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust Executive Director Carol White.
Raggamuffin IX takes place on Saturday 20 February 2016 at The Trusts Arena in Auckland.
The line-up will be announced next Thursday 23 July, with special membership ticket sales from July 27, and general public ticket sales on August 10.
