Plush Koalas Placed Around NYC To Encourage People To Donate To Bushfire Crisis
Published
| Last updated
The bushfire crisis, being dubbed Australia's worst ever season, has gripped people from all over the country.
Hundreds of millions of dollars have been raised by massive fundraisers and huge celebrity donations. But one group has decided to switch things up in a bid to encourage people on the other side of the planet to help out.
Plush koalas have been taped to poles and locations in New York City with a simple message.
Each toy comes with a bright yellow tag that reads: "1 billion of the world's unique wildlife has died in the Australian bushfires."
The tag also has a QR code that helps people to donate money.
It's been created by the New York City office of Australian ad agency Cummins&Partners. The agency's operations manager, Diane Villavieja, told AdWeek that they wanted to make a campaign that would attract loads of people.
Diane said: "Our team at Cummins&Partners NYC are absolutely devastated and wanted to help in some way from across the pond instead of feeling helpless."
A GoFundMe has been set up and raised more than $7,000 in just four days, with the money going towards the NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES).
WIRES chief executive Leanne Taylor released a statement, saying: "In what has become one of Australia's most severe bushfire seasons, WIRES would like to take a moment to thank everyone for their support.
"From funding contributions by businesses, organisations, high profile celebrities and the overwhelming support of the international and local community, we are inspired by your generosity and committed to continuing to provide rescue and care for native animals impacted by the bushfires and preserving and protecting Australian wildlife into the future.
"While NSW has been hit the hardest with an estimated 800 million of the 1 billion animals affected to date and approximately 5 million hectares of land burnt, a National Emergency requires a national response and WIRES will act to provide assistance to all wildlife in line with our mission.
"The allocation of donations received by WIRES will be used to assist as many animals as possible across our nation - we can and will allocate funding and support to all states and territories where needed to assist animals affected by this crisis.
"We will soon be announcing some new initiatives that have been made possible through these generous contributions."
If a little plush koala helps people to donate, then it can only be a good thing. Plus, who wouldn't want to see a cheeky little koala on their way into the subway?
