# Waitrose to donate an extra £1 million at Christmas

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/11/13/waitrose-donate-1m-christmas/
- Published: 2012-11-13T01:16:48+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Supermarket Waitrose is donating £1 million at Christmas, in addition to the £
600,000 it would normally give to good causes over November and December.**

It has saved money by making a cut-down Christmas TV advert, featuring Delia Smith
and Heston Blumenthal in an empty studio, rather than “a fancy, festive TV ad”. 
The money it has saved has been directed to its [Community Matters](http://www.waitrose.com/home/inspiration/community_matters.html)‘
green token’ scheme which enables shoppers to choose a local charity to benefit 
from a donation.

Both Smith and Blumenthal waived their fees for the advert.

## Advertisement

Every three months, Waitrose.com shares a donation of £25,000 between three national
charities. This Christmas those organisations are:

 * RNLI
    
 * Child Bereavement UK
    
 * Multiple Sclerosis Society
    

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE5dDEI_lLY

Online shoppers can choose which charity to support with their ‘vote’ once they
have completed their purchase at Waitrose.com. In the six months to February 2013
they will determine how £150,000 is distributed amongst the charities. This is £
100,000 more than the amount [Waitrose would normally donate](http://www.waitrose.com/giving)
on behalf of online shoppers in that period.