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Peterborough Match Fund: Tycoon Mike spells out his big giveaway
Entrepreneur and 'Secret Millionaire' Mike Greene is hoping to secure Peterborough charities thousands of pounds. Photo: David Lowndes/Peterborough ET
THE Secret Millionaire, who has vowed to match donations given to Peterborough charities pound-for-pound, gave a presentation to representatives from more than 50 good causes.
Mike Greene, from Crowland, has teamed up with the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation to match up to £100,000 donated on the Peterborough Local Giving website after April 24.
That means charities wanting to benefit from Mike’s offer via the Peterborough Match Fund have ten weeks to get a profile on to the website - localgiving.com/peterboroughmatchfund.
On Wednesday morning (8 February) Mike joined Cambridgeshire Community Foundation chief executive Jane Darlington and founder of Local Giving Marcelle Speller to give a presentation in front of representatives from 55 local charities at the Great Northern Hotel.
Among the groups represented were The Rudolf Fund, the Free Kicks Foundation and the Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service (PCVS).
They were all encouraged to register online and the panel promised to help them create their profile on the website and draw up marketing plans.
The good causes will then see any donations made to them on the website doubled by the foundation once the Peterborough match fund goes live on April 24.
Mike said: “I am committed to Peterborough and Local Giving helps causes in and around the city.
“I believe we can raise £100,000 and create awareness and further support for 100 charities.”
Marcelle, who was also a Secret Millionaire in 2010, has proved such an inspiration to Mike that he has decided to take three months off work to commit to establishing the Peterborough chapter of Local Giving.
Mike added: “They say that when the student is ready the teacher will appear. Marcelle was there and said, ‘we can help you and you can help us’.
“I ran a successful business but I found the more successful it got the less time I had to spend with my family.
“The Secret Millionaire came around and it changed my life.
“I decided to take a step away from my business and help support Peterborough charities.”
Marcelle told the group about how she set up the website four years ago and how a similar match fund in Plymouth raised £40,000.
She praised Mike’s tenacity in making the Peterborough chapter a success. Marcelle said: “I want there to be a Mike in every city in the UK.”
Meanwhile, Jane Darlington, chief executive of the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, added: “We connect local people who care, with causes that matter. I am passionate about endorsing what Local Giving can deliver.”
Mick Leggett, trustee of the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, finished the meeting with a rousing endorsement of the idea.
He said: “I believe in Peterborough and hope you go away to spread the word. I would like to thank our inspirational trio and I am sure it is going to be a great success.”
What prospective charities thought
REPRESENTATIVES from 55 local good causes were in the audience for the meeting.
John Fox, founder of the Rudolf Fund, said: “I think the match fund is a cracking idea. I said I wanted to shake Mike’s hand, and that is what I have done this morning.”
Steve Thorpe, who runs the Free Kicks Foundation, said: “I put an application in yesterday. I thought it was really good and ideal for a small charity like us.”
David Copeland, from the Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service, said: “I welcome the match funding but I hope there is not duplication with services we do.”
The representatives were all invited to another workshop that will help them finalise their registration later in the month.
The workshop will take place at City College Peterborough, in Brook Street, on February 22 from 5.30pm to 9pm.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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