Raising essential funds for underprivileged children
UPS, the world’s largest package delivery company and a global leader in logistics services, recently donated R74 500.00 to the Mpumelelo Children’s Day Care Centre. The funds were raised at the UPS SCS Annual Spring Ball on 9 September 2010 at the Sunnyside Hotel, Parktown.
The funds raised will be used to provide educational toys and equipment for the children as well as to assist them in building safer structures in which to live and learn. Belinda Gault, HR manager, UPS South Africa says, “This year the beneficiary is the Mpumelelo Children’s Day Care Centre which currently cares for 70 children between the ages of three months and six years.”
The Day Care Centre was started by Maria Gaba in 1998, and currently operates from a wooden structure, with a few aging shack dwellings used as a safe house for children. It also provides them with basic education and a daily meal. While stationery is provided by various donors, the children don’t have much by way of educational stimulation, which is vital at this stage of their development.
Maria Gaba, founder of the Mpumelelo Children’s Day Care Centre says, “Our vision is to build an orphanage, a crèche, a nursery school and an after school care centre with trained teachers and supervisors.”
“At UPS we strongly believe in the value of giving back to the communities in which we operate and we are grateful to the support of all the organisations involved with this initiative,” continues Gault.
The UPS Annual Spring Ball forms part of the company’s Community Relations Programme, which aims to give back to the communities around the world in which UPS does business every day. UPS believes that its business success depends on balancing economic, social and environmental objectives. Over the past few years, the UPS Spring Ball has raised in excess of R300, 000 for various community-based projects.
Gault concludes: “UPS is eager to contribute to this safe haven for children and I am confident that the proceeds from the event will dramatically improve the condition of this facility and assist Mpumelelo in realising their vision.”
For more information on the Mpumelelo Children’s Day Care Centre, visit www.mpumelelochildren.co.za.
Contact: Paul Horsfall : Managing Director
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