Huge community support for Orphan Fund

This quarter the North Coast Courier Orphan Fund raised an impressive R169 000.

This enabled the Fund to save some money for the first quarter of 2015 and at the same time boost the bursary scheme.

The committee met on January 21 to make the fund’s quarterly allocations.

The money raised (and distributed) during the months October 2014 through to January is reflected in the table.

The Orphan Fund has ongoing support from the Ledbury Catholic church in England which has been raising money for us for about 10 years.

This quarter they deposited a very generous R17 000.

Virginia Carlton from Ledbury, who champions the cause of the orphans of the North Coast, made a special visit to attend the January committee meeting and to visit some of the projects.

Zimbali Rotary’s annual Miss Ballito pageant, donated a princely R35 000.

The annual Durban Symphonic Choir concert was, this year, held at the Dutch Reformed church in Ballito, raising over R6 500.

The Ballito Open Golf day was a great success.

Sincere thanks to Malcolm Mann and family who organize this event.

Thank you too to the teebox and prize sponsors who make it all worthwhile, raising R37 000.

R&C Instrumentation owned by Steve and Sylvia Edwards, made a generous donation of R40 000.

The support of the community for the Orphan Fund is very encouraging.

Much of the money that comes to the Orphan Fund is donated anonymously by companies or individuals.

Social groups like the All Souls Bridge Club regularly contribute.

The Umhlali ladies golf section also held a fun photo opportunity at their Christmas lunch which, with help from the men’s section raised over R4 000.

Apart from the regular feeding schemes the Orphan Fund is, this quarter, busy with the Soles for Souls shoe project, now in its sixth year.

Shoes are an essential but expensive item of a school uniform and Seeff properties Ballito is our very enthusiastic and committed sponsor, which sources about 300 pairs of school shoes every year direct from the Toughees factory.

The Orphan Fund is audited and registered as a non-profit and has been approved by the Receiver of Revenue for tax exemption.

This means that donors can receive a tax deduction on donations made.

If you would like to donate or start a regular debit order, the North Coast Courier Orphan Fund bank details are ABSA branch: 630229, Acct No: 9109572488.