26 June 2008 - The All Blacks have a new Official Charity, the KidsCan Charitable Trust, which helps disadvantaged children nationwide.

The new three-year partnership was announced today at a launch at Robertson Road Primary School in Mangere, Auckland, with All Blacks Ali Williams, Anthony Tuitavake and Anthony Boric in attendance.

KidsCan is the successor to Save The Children New Zealand, the All Blacks first Official Charity, after a three-year term.

The launch also coincided today with the handing over of the 20,000th adidas raincoat in the KidsCan Raincoats for Kids programme.

KidsCan was started three years ago following concerns that many children in low-decile schools were going without basic needs. As well as distributing adidas raincoats, it has handed out 7,000 pairs of shoes and 240,000 meals a year to children at 70 schools around the country. More than 80 schools are currently on the waiting list to receive KidsCan assistance.

The New Zealand Rugby Union also today announced that Plunket would become an Official Partner of the All Blacks and the NZRU

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said: "We are really proud to have KidsCan as the Official Charity of the All Blacks and to have Plunket as an Official Partner. The team is keen to support organisations that help more New Zealand kids be healthy and happy."

KidsCan General Manager Julie Helson said: "The association with the All Blacks will raise the profile of KidsCan so that every household in New Zealand is aware of how significant the issue of child poverty has become. There are thousands of Kiwi kids going to school cold and hungry through no fault of their own and this has a major impact on their ability to learn."

Plunket General Manager, Strategic Funding, Marketing and Communications, Liz Gibbs said: "Plunket is very excited to be chosen as an Official Partner of the All Blacks and the NZRU. Plunket and the All Blacks are both part of New Zealand communities and in partnership we will be promoting fitness for families, positive parenting and volunteering - and of course helping us to raise money to help children in New Zealand get the best start in life."

NZRU General Manager of Community Rugby Brent Anderson said: "We are proud to be associated with KidsCan and Plunket. They do fantastic work in our communities and the All Blacks and the NZRU are looking forward to doing our bit to help out."

Anderson said there was also a natural fit between KidsCan and the NZRU's educational and Small Blacks rugby programmes.

"We have rugby-themed education programmes going into schools all over the country and we look forward to working with KidsCan on a number of initiatives."

Anderson also acknowledged the work of Save The Children New Zealand.

"We have thoroughly enjoyed the last three years with Save The Children and now have a real appreciation of the incredible work they do. We wish them all the best for the future."