Making dreams come true

Porsche has been making the dreams of sports-car enthusiasts come true for more than 75 years.

Now the company is assuming a social responsibility that extends beyond the factory gates. 

Over the next three years, it’s supporting Make-A-Wish globally and Porsche NZ is helping bring this to life locally by supporting the charity here to make dreams of critically ill Kiwi kids come true.

With a commitment to grant the wish of at least three sick children, it’s inviting supporters to double the impact by matching donations up to the total value of $15,000.

In addition, the brand will continue supporting the charity during 2024 through local activities with New Zealand’s four Porsche centres and the Porsche Club of NZ.

Thrill-seeker Theo, and his siblings Zoe and Hugh, were invited for a day of action-packed racing at last month’s Taupo Super400. The weekend also included the first-ever New Zealand round of Porsche Carrera Cup Australia.

Theo suffers from plastic bronchitis and Make-A-Wish NZ helped fulfill his wish of an adrenaline-filled trip to Queenstown. 

And Team Porsche NZ driver Marco Giltrap took the three siblings, pictured above, on a behind-the-scenes tour of his GT3 Cup car and gained them as fans cheering him on during the race.

“Driven by dreams is a motivation we live by at Porsche, inspired by the spirit of our founder Ferry Porsche when he designed his first dream sports car,” says Greg Clarke, general manager of Porsche NZ.

“The brand places a strong interest in supporting Make-A-Wish globally. We share the same values in New Zealand and are looking forward to helping make wishes come true throughout 2024.”

Alan Brame, Make-A-Wish NZ’s chief executive officer, adds: “We’re thrilled to have the amazing team at Porsche NZ on board, helping to grant the wishes of three Kiwi children battling critical illness. 

“Wishes have brought hope, joy and strength to thousands of children and their families. We’re so grateful to Porsche for its support. We are proud to be partnering with the team to make more dreams come true.”

The global partnership was announced last year to mark Porsche’s 75th anniversary of sports cars. Since being founded in 1980, Make-A-Wish has fulfilled the wishes of more than 550,000 children in 50 countries. 

In reference to the first Porsche – the 356 – the marque donated €1.8 million to help make the wishes of 356 children around the world come true.