This annual event, to be held in the Cape Town City Hall later this year, was established by Inyathelo: The South African Institute for Advancement to acknowledge, celebrate and honour those whose personal giving has contributed towards sustainable social change in our country.
Previous awardees include the Ackerman and Lubner families; Traditionalist, environmentalist and community worker Grace Masuku; 12-year Jordan van der Walt whose ‘Just One Bag’ campaign has fed over a million hungry school children; Refiloe Seseane, a former soap opera star who started the organisation 18twenty8 to empower young women; Alice Wamundiya, a former car guard from Rwanda who established an organisation to provide tertiary education for refugees; and Dr Peter Farrant for his lifetime contribution to secondary education and the prevention and treatment of HIV.
Inyathelo Executive Director Shelagh Gastrow says the Awards panel is looking for extraordinary people who are actively investing their own resources in small or big ways to improve their communities and South Africa – be it through the arts, education, health, environment, research or other causes. “Philanthropy is dependent on the interest, passion, commitment, generosity and foresight of individuals wanting to make a difference, and our Awards seek to inspire others by recognising the incredible role models amongst us. Individual giving can be the largest source of donor money in South Africa and philanthropists play a critical role in effecting real systemic change through supporting innovative solutions to our many social, environmental and economic problems. ” explains Gastrow.
Anyone can nominate their philanthropy hero by filling in a simple online nomination form on the Philanthropy SA website or by contacting Inyathelo’s Philanthropy Coordinator Alfred Thutloa on awards@inyathelo.org.za or 021-465 6981/2.
Nominations close on Friday, 28 June 2013 and the awardees will be announced at the gala evening event in the City Hall on Tuesday 5 November. Thutloa says the awardees are chosen according to specific criteria by a panel of highly respected independent reviewers.
