Kiwis unite as Ingram Micro quiz night raises $15k for Cure Kids

Ingram Micro’s quiz night, hosted by former All Black great Stu Wilson, saw representatives from some of the world’s top technology brands pitted against each other in a battle for bragging rights.

Fifteen teams put their knowledge to the test in an entertaining evening, which saw teams from computer giant HP take out first and second place in a hotly competitive final round.

Ingram Micro’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee member, Tracey Button, said the committee’s goal was to raise $9,000 from table sales for what will now be an annual event.

“On top of these sales we were inundated by people wanting to buy raffle tickets and buy answers to the quiz questions, which we had no idea would be so popular," Button says.

"We were having money thrown at us which was just incredible."

Spur-of-the-moment challenges included one attendee offering a $100 donation for a shoe shine from Ingram Micro New Zealand Managing Director, Gary Bigwood.

“Gary was on his feet, ready for the challenge, before Stu had even finished his sentence," Button adds.

Another challenge offered a unique experience for some attendees to learn the haka from a former All Black, which proved entertaining.

“One of our staff members offered a $100 donation if Stu taught some of our non-Kiwi members the haka, which was fantastic," Button adds. "Stu was a great host. He donated his time and told entertaining stories of his rugby past."

This is the first year Ingram Micro New Zealand has aligned itself with a chosen charity.

“At the beginning of the year we emailed all our staff, asking them to choose which charity they would like us to support," Button adds.

"More than 60 percent of the business chose Cure Kids, which was a pretty overwhelming majority.”

With a fundraising goal of $20,000 for 2014, Ingram Micro is well on the way to exceeding its objecives, with the next major event planned being a charity golf day in November.