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PRESS RELEASES

Mahindra Rise "The Charity Drives - Food, Clothing, Christmas and School Drive 2024/5"

In conjunction with Pink Loerie Foundation NPC, Ways of Walking Foundation NPC and Friends, Partners and Society NPC, ETC Pub Centurion, Eat at ETC and Maraai’s Soup Kitchen

Help us deliver 2,100 handmade plain and patchwork quilts this winter

In Memory of Caleb Jordan Ingram

The Rainbow Christmas Drive 2023

With the support of Mahindra South Africa

BENEFICIARIES

GAUTENG

  • Blankets
  • Winter Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Baby Products*
  • Toys
  • Blankets
  • Winter Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Baby Products*
  • Toys
  • Blankets
  • Winter Clothing (Adult)
  • Clothing (Adult)
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Baby Products*
  • Toys
  • Blankets
  • Winter Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Baby Products*
  • Toys
  • Blankets
  • Winter Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Baby Products*
  • Toys
  • Blankets
  • Winter Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Baby Products*
  • Toys
  • Blankets
  • Winter Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Baby Products*
  • Toys

WESTERN CAPE

  • Blankets
  • Linen
  • Towels
  • Adult Diapers
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Blankets
  • Linen
  • Towels
  • Adult Diapers
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Blankets
  • Linen
  • Towels
  • Adult Diapers
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Toys
  • Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Children’s Party Packs
  • Blankets
  • Linen
  • Towels
  • Adult Diapers
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Toys
  • Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Children’s Party Packs
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Baby Products*
  • Toys
  • Clothing (Newborn – 10 years old)
  • Children’s Party Packs

Hey guys if you would like to support our IVF Journey please make a contribution and win some prizes all you need to do is the following:

EFT R200 per entry

Reference: Full Name and Surname and contact number

TymeBank: 5101 210 5468

Savings Acc

PayPal: skabonkelchandler@gmail.com

Prizes to be won:

1x pair of his and hers watches

1x Photoshoot voucher available in the East Rand

1x Britney Spears Perfume Valued at R600

1x Voucher valued at R800 for 24 custom iced cookies delivered nationwide (Roxy’s Sugar Box)

1x week stay at Sun City for 6 people valued at R8000

1x week stay at Marina Martenique Jeffreys Bay for 6 people to the value of R12 600

(Hopefully more to come)

Limited entries to 1000 only as we are going to build a 1000-piece puzzle and have every entry written on them.

Once the tickets are sold out, we will have a LIVE draw on my TikTok page @Jordan_ForeverTeamCaleb.

Jordan and Eloi

  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Baby Products*
  • Toys
  • Clothing (Newborn – 18 years old)
  • Children’s Party Packs
  • Blankets
  • Linen
  • Towels
  • Winter Clothing (Adult)
  • Clothing (Adult)
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Blankets
  • Linen
  • Towels
  • Adult Diapers
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Baby Products*
  • Toys
  • Clothing (Newborn – 10 years old)
  • Children’s Party Packs
  • Blankets
  • Linen
  • Towels
  • Adult Diapers
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Blankets
  • Linen
  • Towels
  • Adult Diapers
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Baby Products*
  • Toys
  • Clothing (Newborn – 10 years old)
  • Children’s Party Packs

MPUMALANGA

  • Blankets
  • Winter Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Clothing (Newborn – Adult)
  • Hygiene Kit*
  • Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items*
  • Fresh and Frozen Meat and Chicken
  • Fresh Vegetables and Fruit*
  • Packets of Tea Biscuits etc.
  • Concentrated Cooldrink Mix
  • Cleaning Products*
  • Stationery for School
  • Baby Products*
  • Toys

*Examples of items that can be included in a Hygiene Kit:

Toothbrush, toothpaste, a bar of soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, shaving gel, deodorant, comb, razor, lip balm, facecloth, bandages, hand sanitiser, tissues, nail clippers, hair ties, feminine hygiene products (tampons and pads), toilet paper, washing powder and fabric softener.

*Examples of Dried, Canned, and Frozen Items:

Rice, sugar, macaroni, spaghetti, flour, maize meal, fish oil, salt, tinned fish, bully beef, stamp and beans, oats, Weetbix, milk, spices, baked beans, mixed vegs, peas, dried peas, sweetcorn, stock cubes, tea, coffee, soup mix, lentils, and vinegar etc.

*Examples Cleaning Products:

Jik bleach, handy andy, pine gel, oven cleaner, window cleaner, dishwasher liquid, washing powder, fabric softener etc. 

*Examples of Baby Products:

Diapers (all ages and sizes), wet wipes (without perfume or colorant), baby lotion, baby oil, petroleum jelly (without perfume or colorant), toothpaste, soap, body lotion, Vaseline, baby cereal (Nestum or Cerelac), baby formula (Lactogen 1 and 2, NAN 1 and 2 and Pelargon 1 and 2), Purity fruit or vegetable etc.

PINK LOERIE® FOUNDATION

The Pink Loerie® Foundation (NPC) was established out of the yearly Pink Loerie® Mardi Gras and Arts Festival that has been held for the past 24 years in the quaint seaside town of Knysna, Western Cape.

BENEFICIARIES 

Please see current list above. Subject to change without prior notice.

DONATIONS

The Pink Loerie® Foundation (NPC) is also responsible for collection and deliveries of bedding/linen and towels that we receive from a group of hotels and then re-distribute to the retirement centres in Knysna, in Strand, and Doves Nest in Centurion, Pretoria, a home of safety for abandoned babies and toddlers.

Toys collected via donations are redistributed to places of safety, creches and children’s homes in Knysna, Centurion and Cape Town.

COMMUNITY

The main purpose of Pink Loerie® Foundation is to assist and promote the greater Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Ally (LGBTQIA+) community, in supporting causes and charitable events, providing education, visibility and awareness programmes to boost tourism, and to create an ethos of care within the community and beyond and raising awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of multiple discrimination, violence and hate crimes including corrective rape.

To achieve its objectives, the organisation will mainly rely on sponsorship and donation income from the public and corporate sector.

SPACES FOR WELL BEING

The organisation values the use of sport, workshops, campaigns, pageantry, theatre, creativity, recreation, music, design, multimedia, and other forms of artistic expression, to create spaces to celebrate LGBTQIA+ visibility, eliminate stigma and to promote pride-consciousness as a philosophy for living and being well. To be an innovative and effective agent of social and economic change, Pink Loerie® Foundation focuses on improving lives and creating opportunities in the communities we serve.

CHARITY DRIVE

A notable accomplishment of the Pink Loerie® has always been the charity drive for places like the old age homes, animal welfare and others.

During the 2017 Knysna Fires, the Pink Loerie® Foundation and the Pink Loerie® Mardi Gras and Arts Festival were actively involved in raising funds and procuring much needed relief items for families in distress. These were distributed via various acknowledged and well managed distribution points in Knysna and Sedgefield.

The Pink Loerie® Foundation received the Community Outreach Award during the Annual 92.2 FM Eastwave Radio’s Nelson Mandela International Day, Community Leadership Awards for their contribution and work during the 2017 Knysna Fires in the Greater Knysna area.

WE ARE SOUTH AFRICANS:  A JOINT INITIATIVE

Working together with We are South Africans and its charitable arm, which has selected Pink Loerie® Foundation as one of its charities of choice, will allow us to be part of uplifting multiple communities along the way towards the festival and provide even greater exposure to the businesses, communities and supporting brands along the way to help more people and charities through this joint initiative.

PINK LOERIE® MARDI GRAS AND ARTS FESTIVAL

The Pink Loerie® Mardi Gras and Arts Festival is a story that begins with the idyllic coastal town of Knysna. Knysna (a local Khoikhoi word that legend has it, means ‘ferns’), lies 1200km south of Johannesburg and east of Port Elizabeth. Once, one of the best-kept secrets in South Africa, the now much-loved town of Knysna is on the Garden Route and is surrounded by lush indigenous South African rainforests spilling out into a crystalline estuary; fed by the Knysna River.

For the past twenty-four years, at the end of April and the first week of May, Knysna has also become home to one of the freshest and most exciting LGBTQIA+ celebrations around the world – the Pink Loerie® Mardi Gras and Arts Festival. Initially, it was started by local businessmen to entice tourists to the town during the traditionally slow months of April and May and reinvigorate the local economy. It was run by Juan Lerm until 2009, and the Pink Loerie® Mardi Gras became an event that would not only incorporate the local region’s gay identity expression, but it also celebrated the cultural contributions made by the gay community, and in so doing, overcame a prior history of suppression in the area.

With an ever increasingly visible LGBTQIA+ community, Knysna’s Pink Loerie® has systematically become one of the most written about must-see annual celebrations within the international LGBTQIA+ community. During the early days of the event’s creation, the organisers had first envisioned to have the event rollout as a parade, like the famous Pride events celebrating diversity found around the world.

The next evolution of the concept was to host a parade as well as a party, akin to that of the Sydney Mardi Gras. While acknowledging that the region needed an event that provided a celebratory and creative outlet for its local LGBTQIA+ community, the organisers agreed that whatever was created should go a step beyond that of the traditional, better known Pride parades. It should be a celebration, a carnival – and a carnival with a purpose too. This allowed the event to incorporate all residents and visitors in the town, regardless of their sexuality, and celebrate the rich diversity of people from the Greater Municipality of Eden area as well, which incorporates Knysna and nearby George. It became an event that truly embraced the ideals of equality, societal awareness, and freedom, whilst essentially remaining a celebration of gay culture and queer freedom, it was to serve as a platform where LGBTQIA+ cultural and political issues could be debated and addressed, in an informal and relaxed setting.

Issues such as sexual education, HIV/Aids, and acceptance from all sides of the community were often primary themes of discussion and celebration. After some initial discussions with the local government and a whopper of a fundraiser (that proved just how much support they had from all areas of the community) they were ready to begin.

And so, in 2001, the very first Pink Loerie® Mardi Gras was launched, and to say it was a huge success is an understatement. It was the birth of a new, culturally aware, and uniquely South African version of the European Pride, and to date, the Pink Loerie® Mardi Gras provides a wider range of events, exhibitions and gatherings to focus on creative and political endeavors within the South African and international Queer communities, including Performing art shows, dance parties, art exhibitions and charity drives that provoke thought and debate as well as good old-fashioned fun! And, for the more outdoor oriented, there have been excursions to local tourist attractions such as Monkeyland, Birds of Eden, as well as lagoon rides on the cruise boats on offer. At its heart, the Pink Loerie® is a festival and a celebration; so, dancing, fun and music also played an enormous part of the event, with daily shows being held at various locations throughout the town and club nights.

This beautiful tradition of celebration, Pride and creative expression in a gorgeous setting has continued to glitter and thrive for over eighteen years. The grand finale of the Pink Loerie® Mardi Gras, the Parade and after-party, is held on the final weekend of the celebrations.

The festival attracts floats, performers and DJs from all over the world and local businesses also get into to the spirit, competing for the best Pink Loerie® window display.

This festival is the event where Knysna comes into its own, with the locals showing the full extent of hospitality, diversity and fanfare and festive spirit that is the backbone of the event, and the reason that people keep coming back every year. Businesses on the Garden Route such as accommodation establishments, restaurants, Monkeyland, Birds of Eden, estuary boat cruises, and local shops have benefitted over the years from the influx of tourist for the festival.

Moreover, in 2016 Africa’s first mass same-sex wedding added a dash of colour to gloomy weather on the Garden Route, when 16 couples tied the knot in Knysna. “As we celebrate 16 years of making a mark on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Ally (LGBTQIA+) community, and the 10 years since same-sex marriage in our country was legalised, we felt it only appropriate to highlight one of the most appreciated and sought-after rights – the right to marriage equality,” festival organiser John O’Neil said at the time.

The grand finale of the Pink Loerie® Mardi Gras – the parade and after-party – is held on the final weekend and it attracts floats, performers, and DJs and flocks of spectators.

The best Pink Loerie® shop window display contest has over the years seen fierce competition among local shop owners which literally turn their windows pink in the festive spirit of partaking.

The Pink Loerie® Mardi Gras & Arts Festival is, therefore, a time of celebration, but a celebration with a purpose.

WAYS OF WALKING FOUNDATION

Our lives begin and end as part of a journey. A journey set by parents, family, friends or elders. Some are happy and some not so much. At the end of the day, it is up to us to choose a path we will follow with knowledge gained and thus chisel our future into reality. Ways of Walking is just that, it’s a reminder where we come from, where we are heading, how we have failed and how we got past that and achieved greatness.

By supporting Ways of Walking Foundation, you are enabling the cornerstone of what can be achieved – to overcome difficulties and realizing potential as adults.

The past “is what it is”, but the future is depending on decisions taken today – the Ways of Walking Foundation will be an optional path and way to share for generations to come – a proud legacy to carry forward.

Too many lives have been lost and families destroyed, BUT if we as a #WOW community stand together, the future might include belonging, guidance, love, joy, laughter, acceptance, tolerance and understanding.

“Understanding” is a concept most people seem to ignore, overlook or simply choose to deny. Reasons being cultural rules & demands, “communal traditions” or for whatever reason.

“Understanding” breeds acceptance and respect – BUT it is up to us to light the flame of hope and UNITE and carry out the message that: “We are family, I got all my sisters with me, we are family. Get up everybody and sing” Sister Sledge (1979).

Step into the world of “Ways of Walking “, where each stride is a testament to quality craftsmanship, community empowerment, and a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation.

Rooted in the heart of authentic leather veldskoen shoes, our brand is more than just footwear; it’s a journey through the paths of fashion and life.

At the core of “Ways of Walking”, our dedication goes beyond crafting leather veldskoen shoes of timeless style and comfort. Each pair is a masterpiece, meticulously crafted by skilled artisans, reflecting our commitment to heritage and sustainability through the use of natural materials.

Beyond fashion, “Ways of Walking” is a symbol of our commitment to creating positive social impact. We walk hand in hand with communities, forging opportunities and leaving a lasting mark of progress. Our foundation, inseparable from our name, initiates projects fostering education, skill development, and environmental conservation.

Embark on a transformative journey with us, where each pair of shoes from “Ways of Walking” narrates a story. Beyond unparalleled craftsmanship, our philosophy celebrates the beauty of the paths we choose, showcasing the transformative power of collective strides.

It’s not just a brand; it’s a philosophy where every step creates an impact, immersing yourself in the fusion of style, substance, and social responsibility with “Ways of Walking” – where the art of walking becomes a testament to the meaningful differences we choose to make in life.

© 2024 John-Louis O’Neil, Christiaan Hermanus de Beer and Gihan Ferreira

FRIENDS, PARTNERS AND SOCIETY NPC

Friends, Partners and Society (FPS) is a non-profit company dedicated to fostering a culture of collaboration and social responsibility. Our mission is to bring together individuals, organizations, and communities to drive positive change and promote sustainable development.

As a catalyst for social innovation, FPS provides a platform for like-minded individuals to share ideas, expertise, and resources. We believe that by working together, we can create a more just, equitable, and prosperous society for all.

Our purpose is to:

* Identify and address pressing social and environmental issues
* Develop and implement sustainable solutions that benefit marginalized communities
* Foster partnerships between individuals, organizations, and governments to amplify impact
* Provide training, mentorship, and capacity-building programs to empower social entrepreneurs and change-makers

By joining forces with FPS, you become part of a vibrant network of individuals and organizations committed to creating a better world. Together, we can make a difference and create a brighter future for generations to come.

Let’s work together to build a more compassionate, inclusive, and sustainable society. Join the FPS community today and become a part of something extraordinary!

BE PRIDE

PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS