Our Story
From the day Annah Stretton started her own clothing business back in 1992, an unrelenting appetite for exploring new opportunities, taking on new challenges and making a contribution to the community became major driving forces in her life. Fast forward to 2013, and Annah’s desire to extend the impact of her philanthropic efforts led her to set up her own Foundation.
“I discovered that bringing my brand and my business acumen to the not-for-profit space, and not just my cheque book, created such a high for me that it naturally became an area that I wanted to invest more of my time in.”
Annah Stretton
In the beginning
While Annah didn’t set up her foundation with a particular ‘cause’ in mind, she knew that she needed to find a ‘gap’ where no-one else was working because New Zealand’s track record at building charitable organisations that stand the test of time was far from stellar.
An opportunity soon crossed her path in the form of Ruahine (Roni) Albert, CEO of Te Whakaruruhau Māori Women’s Refuge. Through the Refuge, Annah was introduced to a world that was both shocking and captivating. She had found her cause and it was all about helping to redefine the futures of a group of socially disadvantaged women that society had put in the too-hard basket. The Annah Stretton Foundation launched its first charity RAW (Reclaim Another Woman), in 2014.
Every day goodness grows here
The organisations established by the Annah Stretton Foundation aim to transform the lives of female offenders (RAW) and, co-fund educational growth opportunities that will help strong and independent women to emerge and shape the path of future generations (Hope Fish). While separate, each of these charities shares a common goal – to build up the confidence, capacity and capability of individuals in order to shift them out of the shadow of disadvantage and towards long-term prosperity.
