HIGHWAY Hospice received a generous donation of $15 000 from the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Foundation last week.
Logan Naidu, who is the divisional vice president of the member communication committee at MDRT Foundation (International Task Force), and also the vice chair of the board of management at Highway Hospice, said MDRT is a financial services industry of professionals around the world. It has more than 42 500 members globally in more than 74 countries.
He said the MDRT Foundation was created in 1959 by its members as a way to combine its philanthropic efforts. It’s leadership and volunteer structure is member-driven. Its mission is to gain individual and corporate support through global grants; however, funding comes from members predominantly.
“It’s a meaningful way for members to give back to the community, and that’s why I motivated for a grant from MDRT Foundation for Highway Hospice,” said Naidoo.
The MDRT Foundation awarded a grant of $15 000 – equivalent to approximately R185 000 – to Highway Hospice, which is one of the largest grants given to any South African organisation.
Since 1959, the MDRT Foundation has donated more than $350-million to a diverse range of charitable organisations in 70 countries. Medical programmes, research, youth leadership, financial literacy and disability and educational programmes are some of the causes that the MDRT Foundation’s grant has helped fund. The also partnered with Habitat for Humanity in 1998 to build affordable housing for under-served communities.
“Community programmes are at the core of the MDRT Foundation,” said Naidu.
Linda Webb, CEO of Highway Hospice, said they were extremely grateful to the MDRT Foundation.
“We currently care for 520 terminally ill patients and also provide support to their families. We do all of this free of charge and without government funding. It is organisations such as the MDRT Foundation that help us keep our doors open and continue to provide care for the terminally ill,” said Webb.