Nedbank Local Hero programme donates to Amazing Grace-
The Nedbank Local Hero Programme contributed over R15 000 to Amazing Grace Children’s Home in Eikenhof, on Monday August 18.
EIKENHOF – The funding will assist the organisation with the food security programme and other basic needs. The organisation is a refuge for close to 100 abused and neglected children.
Billing manager at Nedbank, Nokwanda Mpikeleli, is the Local Hero for this project. She has been raising funds, doing administration work and helping the children at the organisation with homework.
Established in 2001, the Nedbank Local Hero programme encourages and honours Nedbank staff and clients who participate in volunteer work. A committee meets regularly to assess requests and donates a minimum of R10 000 towards organisations in which staff and clients are involved.
“We are proud of the support and commitment that our staff and clients have shown towards this programme. We always encourage our staff and clients to be actively involved in social upliftment activities within their communities, and it’s been heart-warming to see improved participation over the past 13 years,” said Ms Kone Gugushe, Divisional Executive: Corporate Social Investment (CSI) at Nedbank.
Apart from the Nedbank Local Hero programme, clients and staff are encouraged to volunteer time, money and skills or support causes close to their hearts through affinity programmes and other existing volunteerism initiatives. The bank also runs a number of national, provincial and local social upliftment programmes, which are facilitated by the Nedbank Foundation, the primary CSI arm of Nedbank Group.
“CSI is a business and moral imperative for Nedbank. Our aim is to make a lasting contribution to the social, economic, transformational and cultural issues pervading our country. Our approach is anchored by key focus areas which include education, health, community, and socioeconomic development,” concluded Ms Gugushe.
In 2013, the bank invested R5.5 million compared to R3.1 million in 2012 in volunteerism. Over the past 11 years, Nedbank contributed more than R30 million to volunteerism programmes. On average, 15 per cent of the group’s 28 000 employees take part in volunteerism programmes on an annual basis.
