Generali Worldwide Donates £30,000 for the Lights

30/10/2007

Generali Worldwide gives the Friends of the Lights campaign a £30,000 lift

Festive Decor is THRILLED to announce that Generali Worldwide has made an extremely generous donation of £30,000 to the Friends of the Lights campaign. A huge Festive "Thank you" to Generali Worldwide.

The insurance and wealth management firm, which employs nearly 200 people in Guernsey, has given the charity appeal a £30,000 lift.

Generali hope that their contribution will spur on the Town traders and others to come forward with their own donations. Yet more funds are needed to invest in the lighting-up operation over the next few years.

Patron of the appeal Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian Malbon, said: “It was unthinkable that Guernsey’s Town would not be lit up. We were hopeful that funding would be found and this very large donation has given Festive Décor a tremendous and welcome boost.”

Martine Ellis, chairman of Festive Décor, said: “We have been in discussion with Generali for some time and we are delighted with this generous, community-spirited gesture. They have guaranteed smiles on thousands of local faces this Christmas.”

The charity and its supporters in the Young Business Group made a start on putting up the lights yesterday and volunteers will be out again over the next few weekends before Father Christmas comes to Town to switch them on, at 6 p.m. on Saturday 1 December.

Generali Worldwide’s Chief Executive Officer, Gavin Tradelius, said: “Generali has had a significant presence in Guernsey for over 30 years. Although our business is largely international, we are very conscious of our corporate and civic responsibility to the local community.

“When we became aware of this particular appeal, and knowing the special place that Christmas holds for us all, we felt we had to get involved.”

Festive Decor set a target of £60,000 which would enable them to maintain and erect the existing display and put together a plan for 2008 to illuminate areas of Town that are currently without lights.

Ms Ellis said: “Aside of Generali’s donation our fundraising is going well and we will now be pushing ahead to raise at least another £12,000 to achieve everything we want to do in Town over the next two years. We are looking to secure the sustainability of the lights for some years to come by encouraging town businesses and individuals to become a Friend of the Lights and commit to a standing order.”

Back to previous page