12-year-old Zach McDonald and his community rallied together to gift beautiful beanie and bootie sets to the premature babies at Groote Schuur Hospital, wrapping these tiny fighters in pure love and warmth.
Cape Town, South Africa (21 July 2026) – In 2024, he first won our hearts by saving up his pocket money to help babies in need. Last year, he brought much-needed stationery relief to the learners of Merrydale Primary School. This year, Zach McDonald, the young philanthropist behind the Zach Gives Back movement, is keeping that heart of giving beating louder than ever.
After learning about the Neonatal Unit at Groote Schuur Hospital, Zach and his mother, Tanielle McDonald, set out to collect 67 beanie and bootie sets for micro-prem, premature, and newborn babies. Each set represented one of the 67 minutes of service that Mandela Day encourages South Africans to give.
With some of Zach’s own savings and the incredible generosity of family, friends and the community, they successfully reached their goal of 67 sets.
Getting to see just how tiny the precious babies were and witnessing how incredibly strong they fight proved an experience that will stay with them forever.
“This Mandela Day was one we will never forget. We had the privilege of delivering the sets to the Groote Schuur Hospital Neonatal Unit. We met the incredible nurses, professors and staff who dedicate their lives to caring for these tiny fighters every single day. We were also taken through the unit, where we met the micro-prem and premature babies and learned about the remarkable work that happens behind the scenes,” Tanielle said.
One of the day’s highlights was Zach getting to quietly take it all in.
“He stood in silence, appreciating every moment and every tiny miracle before him. It was clear that this experience touched his heart in a way words cannot fully describe,” shared Tanielle.
A young boy with eyes that recognise the needs of others and a generosity beyond his years, Zach continues to not only inspire us with each project he takes on, but also to remind those facing challenges that they matter and are not alone.
Tanielle further extended her appreciation to every kind and generous heart that donated and shared this Zach Gives Back gifting and believed in what he was and is trying to achieve with every initiative he gives back.
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