With silly season upon us, retailers are holding thumbs for a bumper time of year and so are thousands of charities and environmental organisations.
Shoppers too, are looking for ways to make their holiday and gift purchases count by helping those in need during this time. The funds raised by the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet fundraising programme during its last fiscal are a reminder that there’s a smart way to use our shopping to make a difference in our communities, and in the country as a whole.
Thanks to all the cardholders around the country, R 70,319,673.21 has been raised this year for a range of schools, charities and conservation organisations.
Animal causes are a great favourite of the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet cardholders with an array of welfare and conservation organisations receiving significant funds through the fundraising channel.
Over the last fundraising period, the National Council of SPCAs received R 326,107.74; while just over R 1 million was raised for regional societies, Sandton SPCA, Tshwane SPCA, Cape of Good Hope SPCA and Alberton SPCA, as well as the SPCA’s of Kloof, Durban and Amanzimtoti.
The programme is also as effective at raising funds for the lesser known, more localised animal welfare organisations.
For example, in the same time period, just by swiping their cards at till points, SA shoppers raised R 147,701.78 for the Highveld Horse Care Unit in Vereeniging; R 92,929.62 for the CartHorse Protection Association operating on the Cape Flats and R 272,086.33 for False Bay’s TEARS, The Emma Animal Rescue Society.
Protecting the country’s dwindling Rhino populations is a wildlife cause that is top of mind for many South Africans, and shoppers raised a whopping R 2,483,344.39 for the MyPlanet Rhino Fund which is managed by the Endangered Wildlife Trust.
Children’s charities are a popular group of MyVillage beneficiaries amongst many SA cardholders. The Red Cross Hospital, once a pioneer and now a stalwart of modern paediatric care is well-supported across the country and received almost R 200,000.00 in the latest fundraising period for its various programmes.
R 125,383.39 was raised CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation, an organisation that provides support to children with cancer and life threatening blood disorders, and their families. Cotlands, an organisation working across six provinces and specialising in early childhood development (ECD) opportunities for vulnerable children received R 108,405.18. Local children’s organisations are also well-represented as beneficiaries of the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet programme.
R 38,034.95 was raised by shoppers for Durbanville Children’s Home, while R 54,575.60 went to Johannesburg’s Abraham Kriel Childcare.
All this and much more, has been made possible due to 1.2 million SA customers choosing to give back as they shop.
MySchool cardholders can nominate up to three beneficiaries and then swipe their cards at participating retailers every time they shop. The retailers make contributions on behalf of cardholders based on a percentage of their spend, which is then distributed to the schools, charities or conservation bodies of their choice, at no additional costs to the shoppers.
For schools and non-profit organisations across the country, MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet has become an important fundraising partner making a much-needed contribution to the on-going funds they need to carry on their vital work. Shoppers get the opportunity to support the causes they care about, whether that’s improved education, a better society or a more sustainable planet.
“Every year it’s a delight to see how cardholders, schools, charities and businesses are working together to make every swipe count,” said Pieter Twine MySchool’s General Manager.
“We have become one of the country’s biggest community fundraising programmes that enables South Africans to make a difference, just by shopping. Well done to SA shoppers for playing your part!”
Before the start of your Christmas and holiday shopping, sign up for your free MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card online at www.myschool.co.za and select up to three schools, charities and conservation organisations you would most like to support.
Swipe your card every time you shop at a range of participating retailers including Woolworths, Bidvest Waltons, Engen Foodstops, Flight Centres and one of South Africa’s biggest online stores www.loot.co.za .
With every swipe the retail partner makes a donation to your selected beneficiary, at no cost to you.
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