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Press release:

Ref: OGI0328
25th January 2012

Open GI Look to Raise Funds for Acorns Children’s Hospice in Worcester

Chris Guillaume, CEO of Open GI (pictured right) at the Acorns Children’s Hospice based in Worcester with Carol Crowe, Three Counties Community Fundraising Manager, Acorns Children's Hospice Trust, pledging to raise funds to aid the Trust

Leading Worcester employer, Open GI has pledged to raise £5,500 to support Acorns Children's Hospice Trust in 2012.

Having previously nominated Acorns Children's Hospice Trust in 2007 as its company charity of the year, Open GI staff look forward to once again supporting the charity to continue its valuable work offering a network of care and support to children who have life limiting or life threatening conditions. This year, the company’s 350 employees will be invited to participate in a range of fundraising activities to raise money to help Acorns Children's Hospice Trust continue to provide palliative care for children and young people. It currently costs the charity £8 million plus a year to provide care and support to local families and relies heavily on support from the community to fund the majority of activities.

Open GI is keen to support local community issues and last year its employees enjoyed taking part in fundraising events for The Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign. A total of £5,250 was raised by employees through events that included a demanding 26.2 mile Eden Project marathon, the Stratford half marathon and a 13 mile sponsored River Wye kayaking challenge, alongside dress down days and themed cake sales to name but a few.

If the target of £5,500 is reached this year, the Open GI Board will donate an additional £5,500. This approach was taken last year and successfully raised £13,762.82 for The Worcestershire Breast Unit Campaign.

Carol Crowe, Community Fundraising Manager for Acorns in the Three Counties, commented: “We are so grateful to everyone at Open GI for supporting Acorns Children's Hospice Trust throughout 2012. The charity relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income required to offer continuing care for life limited or life threatened children and their families.

Acorns currently supports over 600 children and 865 families, including those who are bereaved."

Chris Guillaume, CEO, Open GI, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Acorns Children's Hospice Trust once more. This local charity is already well-known and supported amongst our staff and I have every confidence that we will meet this ambitious target with the hard efforts and enthusiasm of Open GI employees."

For More Information about Open GI:
Adele Clarkson
Marketing and PR Manager
Open GI
Tel: +44 (0)1905 754455
email: adele.clarkson@opengi.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Open GI supplies market leading IT solutions to insurance brokers across the UK & Ireland. With 20,000 users in around 2,000 firms, the company has a 40% share of the UK broker market and is committed to technological innovation. Open GI technology enables personal and commercial lines brokers trading in standard and niche markets to streamline business activity and become more profitable. With a workforce of 350 people and a 30-year heritage, the company enjoys a strong financial performance. For the year ended 31st May 2010 Open GI reported revenues of £35.0 million and an operating profit of £21.1 million.