Big Buddy Foundation Partner
In 2016, Master Franchise owners, Grant and Ellie Porteous, set the wheels in motion for two homes to be built and auctioned for Big Buddy. In 2017 and 2020, the houses that were built by Hamilton and Papakura Franchisees, Jeff de Leeuw and Mike O'Meeghan, were ready for auction. They raised over $300,000.
Collectively these funds have paid for the opening of the Hamilton office and allowed our Auckland office to expand into South Auckland as far as Franklin.
Again, in 2023 another house was built, again in South Auckland, supported by a hugely generous South Auckland tradie community. Read about it here.
It was a real community effort. Over 20 local companies supported the build by giving their time and skills, reduced rates or donated hardware. Supporting the completion of everything from showers, tiling and appliances to scaffolding, roofing, bricks and batts!
Giving back is a foundation of the G.J. Gardner Homes national ethos. The man at the centre of the latest build was Papakura franchisee Mike O’Meeghan, working with fellow Papakura franchisees Len Adendorff and Nick Xue. The four-bedroom built house at Clarks Beach has just been bought by an Auckland family, raising close to $100,000 to support South Auckland boys.
Part of what motivated O’Meeghan and his team to support Big Buddy was seeing a number of young men coming through the building industry who had grown up without a father around.
"We were inspired to be part of making a difference in boys’ lives early on, through Big Buddy. I am very proud of what we have achieved and so very grateful to all the people who came together to help support us. Together, we made a great team,”
Mike O’Meeghan.
The total raised to date by our incredible friends at GJ Gardner is close to $400,000. A phenomenal effort by our gracious supporters.
Big Buddy and G.J. Gardner would also like to thank the following South Auckland businesses for their support:
