Portsmouth Property Association links with former Lord Mayor for charity boost

Dozen charities to benefit from link-up
Twelve charities are to benefit from a link-up between Portsmouth Property Association (PPA) and the city’s former Lord Mayor.
For the PPA has linked with Cllr Frank Jonas, whose term of office ended on May 17, to continue his charity work.
Cllr Jonas had a list of almost 30 Portsmouth-based charities and voluntary groups for whom he was fundraising.
He said rather than support a large, well-known charity he would spread the net wide and aim to make a £1,000 donation to a swathe of smaller, local charities.
PPA chairman Steve Cripps said “Cllr Jonas did fantastically well, but unfortunately, he ran out of time to give a boost to every good cause on his long list.
“That’s where we stepped in because the PPA had already also decided on the idea of supporting several small charities across the city during my second year in office,” added Steve, of the NatWest Bank in Fareham.
The PPA, which has collected upwards of £80,000 for local charities in just the past 11 years, is now picking up Cllr Jonas’ list with the aim of raising at least £500 for each of 12 worthy causes this year through a number of fundraising events.
The charities are: Portsmouth Area Talking News; Groundlings Theatre; Tonic Music for Mental Health; Hilsea Lido Trust; Portsmouth Autism Support Network; Friends Without Borders; Horizon Angling Club; Portsmouth Family Welfare Association; Charter Academy Parent Council; South East Hampshire Community Outlook, QAH Portsmouth Neonatal Unit and St Cuthbert’s Helping Hands.
Cllr Jonas, who ran a hardware shop in Hilsea, for 16 years and was first elected to Portsmouth City Council in May 2006, said: “It is heartening to think that these good causes will still benefit and my thanks go to the PPA for continuing the good work.”
New Lord Mayor, Portsmouth-born Cllr David Fuller, will be supporting three charities of his own during his year in office: The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity; NHS Trust Oncology and Haematology and Help 4 Special Children.
The PPA will also be stepping up its growing close ties with the city council during 2016 to promote its role as the go-to expert organisation with regard to all property matters in Portsmouth, including another of its successful Property Information Shows.
Steve, presiding over a record PPA membership of around 170 people and the first banker to be chairman, added: “We will do all we can to boost the city’s buoyant property market still further and help the city council promote Portsmouth to the world.”

Portsmouth Property Association chairman Steve Cripps, left, meeting the then Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Cllr Frank Jonas at the Portsmouth Guildhall (Photo The News)