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Peterborough Match Fund: Secret millionaire’s local charity challenge
Entrepreneur and 'Secret Millionaire' Mike Greene is hoping to secure Peterborough charities thousands of pounds. Photo: David Lowndes/Peterborough ET
Peterborough’s Secret Millionaire Mike Greene has challenged locals to donate as much money as possible to charity – and vowed to match it pound for pound.
Self-made millionaire Mike, who lives in Crowland, has taken 15 weeks off work to raise £100,000 which he hopes the public will help him steer towards good causes in the city.
He caught the philanthropy bug after appearing on Channel 4 TV show The Secret Millionaire, where his money and profile helped to secure the future of the New Ark Adventure Playground, in Reeves Way in the city.
Mike is working with the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation to raise the £100,000 needed for the challenge from wealthy entrepreneurs and businesses.
That pot of money will be used to match all donations sent to the Peterborough section of the Local Giving website from Tuesday, 24 April until an as-yet-unspecified end point.
The urgent message to charities within 20 miles of Peterborough is to sign up to the free website as soon as possible to qualify for the generous challenge.
In the meantime, Mike will be trying his hardest to raise the funds to match donations by April, and has already pledged £10,000 of his own money to help reach the target.
He said: “I just hope lots of people can help me find out which charities need the money.
“The best way of doing that is by telling me which ones I should be matching by donating themselves.
“Since doing The Secret Millionaire I have realised how much difference you can make by helping out, and just how many small charities and good causes there are.
“Literally, your next door neighbour could run their own charity, but sometimes they are too nervous or shy to ask for the money and never make the big bucks.
“Almost by default we end up giving money to the big charities, and while they do great work, it is the small, local charities that suffer.
“For some of these charities, donations that would mean only a small amount to the bigger ones could be the difference between prospering and going bust.
“When you donate to big charities the money can get eaten up in admin costs and staffing, but when you work with local ones every penny goes where it is most needed.
“We will build a pot of money and then when it is built, any money that charity gets during that month we will match it all the way.
“But it’s also not just about cash – it’s about raising awareness and showing support.
“We want to hear from any good cause in a 20 mile radius of Peterborough – a charity, a couple raising a disabled child, anything.
“I think an increasing amount of people are thinking charity begins at home – why shouldn’t it stay in a Peterborough home?”
Mike has committed himself to philanthropy after filming The Secret Millionaire, which was recorded in June and broadcast in September.
He has taken to the challenge with the same gusto that turned him into a self-made millionaire.
Earlier this month Mike gave a speech appealing to 200 local businessmen to get involved, and he also has eight meetings this week to appeal for donations.
Mike will also be at a launch meeting at The Great Northern Hotel on February 8 to engage with businesses, donors and charities.
He said: “You get to a stage where you’ve worked enough commercially, but you are not done with what you want to achieve.
“That’s why I have decided to take 15 weeks off my normal work, starting at Christmas.
“In these 15 weeks I am not going to sit back and watch Australian soap operas, that’s just not in my DNA. I am going to do everything I can to get that match fund up to £100,000 to help good local causes.”
Mike’s episode of The Secret Millionaire showed him help out at the New Ark Play Centre, where he has retained an active role long after the cameras stopped filming, and is now president.
He said: “My life will never be the same since filming the show.
“I don’t mean getting stopped in the street, although that does happen, but it has made me totally re-evaluate what is important and asking how I can help out.
“I realised there is a lot more I can do with my money and my profile to help out, but I need to know what charities are out there, and that is why this website is so great.
“It gives everybody an equal footing to get people’s donations.”
Although Mike hopes there will be £100,000 to help charities, each good cause is limited to a maximum of £2,500 from the fund.
More details
Email Mike personally at mike.greene@localgiving.com, call the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation on 01223 410535 or email jane@cambscf.org.uk.
See the Peterborough section of the website: localgiving.com/peterboroughmatchfund
Charities back the £100,000 campaign
CHARITIES in Peterborough have welcomed secret millionaire Mike Greene’s campaign to set up a £100,000 pot of cash for local good causes.
Founder of the Rudolf Fund Cllr John Fox said it would be a “dream come true” if the project succeeded.
The charity has been putting smiles on the faces of city children with disabilities and special needs for the past 16 years with free trips at Christmas, but faces an uncertain future due to a shortfall in funding.
He said: “Some charities get donations from the Government, but the Rudolf Fund gets no donations from local or national government or anyone else other than people raising money for us, and it’s getting harder because there are more charities out there.”
He added: “I think it’s a cracking gesture by the gentleman concerned. I would like to meet him and shake his hand.”
He added: “It reaffirms your faith in the human race, to be honest.”
The Peterborough Disabled Angling and Sports Club is one of just a handful of local charities already registered with localgiving.com.
Secretary Molly Donald also backed the campaign. She said: “It would be brilliant to be honest because everyone is struggling.”
She added it was particularly welcome because it would help charitable groups in and around the city, whereas other grant schemes often operated nationally or countywide.
She said: “If the money is there in Peterborough, it stays in Peterborough. That would really benefit an awful lot of groups in Peterborough.”
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Wednesday 22 February 2012
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Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Community foundation
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:23 PMIt it is understood that some groups may well need help to raise awareness and attract nline donations through Localgiving.com (sorry you were not successful adelgardner) . In order to offer this help we are arranging an event at the Peterborough City College on 22 February ( 5.30pm-9pm) . Throughout the evening there will be a series of mini workshops on how to promote your group and get your message across and raise awareness of your Localgiving page. There will also be one-to-one help offered to anybody who is still in the early stages of getting their profile onto Localgiving.com Local businesses have offered to support the event BUT we need you to register so we can judge how much support to arrange. To register to attend the event at City College Peterborough on the 22 February between 5.30 - 9.00 pm please email lg10@cambscf.org.uk.
adelegardner
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 08:41 AMI am sure Mike Greene has the best of intentions, but Localgiving charges a subscription to charities of £70 per year. We took up a 3 month free trial with Localgiving but didn't feel justified in paying them £70 of the Charities money as we received no donations during the trial.
gogetit
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 05:38 PMwhat a lovely warm person x
Mean Mr Mustard
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 04:32 PMTop fella!
Grapesmuggler
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 11:58 AMstart with UK Debt - the public charity!
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