IN celebration of Women’s Month, the Hillcrest High School (HHS) Angel Fund committee hosted more than 200 ladies for a bespoke brunch function on Saturday, August 15. Guest speaker, philanthropist and ex-East Coast Radio personality, Jane Linley-Thomas had the audience spellbound as she recounted some of her most dramatic radio interviews, and the “giant leap” of faith of leaving her dream job to follow her “next”.

“Jane’s talk was incredibly encouraging,” said HHS principal Denise Knight. “She asked us to recall and share the many dreams we had as children, applauding those who had realised their dreams and going on to encourage us all to keep on dreaming, no matter our age or circumstance. You could see how sharing her truth, her struggles and successes, her fears and her courage in conquering those, resonated with so many of the guests, reminding them that no matter their age, they should keep following their dreams.”

The Angel Fund Tea is hosted annually, as a fundraiser aimed at supporting learners from within the school, whose families are going through financial challenges. Support such as lunches, school stationery and uniforms ensure that learners can concentrate and function at school, no matter the challenges faced at home.

The Angel Fund committee, comprised of learners and headed by the Social Worker and LO educator Sharmila Kowlesur and deputy principal Carol-Lee Edy, sourced incredible items, vouchers, and gift hampers to be raffled as prizes, as well as an astounding number of lucky draw prizes for ticket holders, and best dressed prizes too. Guests were served delicious charcuterie boxes, prepared by the school’s Consumer Studies department and Catering Club learners, and a box of Dough Girls treats, which many ended up having to take home after the jam-packed breakfast boxes.

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“We are grateful to New Image Orthodontics who sponsored the branded Angel Fund mugs for each guest to take home this year, and these were filled with donations of vouchers, notepads, pens, chocolates and rusks, as well as cappuccino sticks,” said Knight. “Michelle Stainer from Ladybird Foundation also assisted with several of the gorgeous hampers and Get It magazine and The Gardener magazine donated magazines for each guest – it was a total spoil as usual!”

Prizes included Watercrest Mall shopping vouchers, Le Creuset ceramics, Sorbet vouchers, a full-sized carrot cake from Mugg and Bean, a ‘meal for two” voucher from Stretta, spa vouchers from Teremok and Lady Gratitude Spas, handbag hampers, baby hampers, hampers for men and ladies, treat hampers, plants, a photoshoot voucher, and hampers with everything needed for a DIY spa day at home. The main prize, which was highly sought after by guests, was an all-inclusive two-night stay for two adults at the Pumula Beach Hotel in Umzumbe on the South Coast.

“The generosity of our supporters, in donating these prizes, as well as the ladies for supporting the raffles and bidding on the wine auctioned by MC and drama educator Mervyn Bartholomew is always so heartwarming,” Angel Fund co-ordinator Kowlesur said in her word of thanks. “We are thrilled to have topped our last year fundraising efforts, having raised over R30 000 this year! Our gratitude goes to each of our sponsors and guests, and to the girls who put in so much effort to make the day remarkable each year. A big thank you to Mrs Frances Mans, a parent and member of our SGB, who took care of the décor, including the rainbow-coloured balloon arch, in keeping with our colour theme for the day. It truly was a day to Live Boldy and Dare to Dream!”

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