A drink for a good cause
FOURWAYS – A few glasses of wine changed the world recently when the local chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc sorority hosted its flagship fundraiser on 16 November.
A glass of wine will do you good, and it will do good for others too!
On 16 November the Psi Tau Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc sorority hosted its annual fundraiser at the Eighteen13 Boutique Wine Shop in Cedar Square. The event featured a silent raffle, auctions, wine tasting and food and was aimed at raising about R100 000, which the organisation will use to continue a number of programmes aimed at helping others.
Although Alpha Kappa Alpha is a sorority which originated in the United States of America back in the early 20th century, the local chapter has been in South Africa since 2013.
“This evening’s event is our flagship fundraiser,” explained Tandie Ngathi, the current president and first South African to fill the role. “Our chapter currently has 23 members who have all been brought together due to a shared love of service. Tonight we’re aiming to raise about R100 000, which we’ll use to fund our programmes.”
Ngathi explained that Alpha Kappa Alpha works to improve the community in a number of ways – by focusing on historically black universities, promoting women and health, supporting the arts and aiming to create a global impact. The local chapter focuses its work in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Diepsloot.
“In the last five years, we’ve provided about 3 000 meals to Stop Hunger Now SA, we have a weekly feeding programme in Diepsloot and some of our volunteers help Grade 2s and 3s from Diepsloot Combined School to learn to read with non-profit organisation Edu Fun,” explained Tracy Swatts Whitfield, also of the chapter.
“We also support 14 child-headed households in Diepsloot, who each care for between one and eight siblings.”
Most recently in the greater Fourways area, the sorority members have hosted a Thanksgiving feast for locals, taken the child-headed household families for a special trip to the cinema, and provided the children who head these households with special goodie packs.
“Our chapter is completely volunteer-based, so events like [the fundraiser on 16 November] are really important.”
On the night a number of prizes were auctioned or raffled off, and Steven Hetz acted as auctioneer.
Details: www.facebook.com/PsiTauOmega
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