More than £45,700 has been donated to Suffolk young adult charity, Zest, by US investment bank, Jefferies International.
The generous donation comes after Zest, which is part of the St Elizabeth Hospice Group, was nominated by John Holloway, an employee at Jefferies International, to be considered for the company’s Doing Good Global Trading Day after the support Zest and St Elizabeth Hospice gave his son, Ben, and the difference this made to his life.
As part of the Doing Good Global Trading Day, Jefferies International, asked its employees to nominate a charity they would like to receive a portion of money, consisting of the firm’s net global trading commissions combined with an additional $1 million directly donated by the firm.
Following John’s nomination, Zest was among a number of charities selected by Jefferies International to receive the fantastic sum of £45,705.
John Holloway, who lives with his family in Claydon, said: “As a family we are pleased to be able to give back to Zest after the support they gave to Ben.
“Our experiences of the charity have only made us as a family more passionate about raising awareness of their work, so that more young people can benefit from the vital care its great team deliver.
“It’s such a worthwhile cause and due to the pandemic, like many charities, they have been unable to complete a lot of their normal fundraising, so any support they receive is more important now than ever before.”
The Holloway family were aware of Zest and St Elizabeth Hospice before Ben accessed their services, with Caroline, Ben’s mum, having previously carried out charity work for both Zest and St Elizabeth Hospice, an experience which she found to be very inspiring.
Zest provides specialist medical and social support services to young adults, aged 14 and upwards, living with progressive and life-limiting illnesses, while also ensuring the smooth transition from children’s hospice into adult care.
From its unique Short Breaks, which allows young adults to escape their daily routine, through to parent support groups and X-Change evening social groups, Zest allows young people to enjoy life to the full.
Liz Baldwin, Corporate and Sponsorship Fundraising Manager, said: “For all Zest and St Elizabeth Hospice staff, it is a real privilege to care for those who use our services.
“The last year, during the ongoing pandemic, has been challenging but as ever the local community has been brilliant in supporting the charity to ensure we can continue to provide care to those who need it.
“We are so grateful for the generosity of people and organisations like the Holloway family and Jeffries International. Every donation makes a huge difference to the team and the services they provide to remarkable people in helping them enjoy the quality of life they deserve.”
To find out more about Zest call 01473 727776 or visit here.