27 NPOs benefit from 2024 Winter Festival
Chairman, Armand Botha emphasised the importance of helping local NPOs in these financially challenging times.
Following the much anticipated and exciting 2024 Winter Festival, 27 local and non local NPOs and feeding schemes were blessed with much-needed funds during a beneficiary breakfast hosted on June 7.
A total of R220 000 was raised by the committee and distributed among the beneficiaries, allowing each NPO to operate a little lighter during these extremely tough times.
Armand Botha, Winter Festival Chairperson, said the committee had also dedicated themselves to assisting a child suffering from a rare medical condition that requires urgent medical treatment abroad.
“The planning of the Winter Festival begins in September with a committee of around 35 people. Extremely long hours go into the planning, and with the current economy, it has become more and more difficult to secure sponsors, which makes the festival possible,” said Botha.
He continued: “We face many financial challenges, but thankfully Build-It has remained on board as our main sponsor for the past three years, and we are extremely grateful to them.”
Botha added that among other challenges they faced, bad weather had almost caused the committee to cancel performances by artists.
However, he was grateful to the artists who decided to continue performing despite the thundershowers and all the issues that arose.
“The rain caused damage to our sound equipment, but a plan was quickly made with the help of the artists and a stellar show put on.”
Botha emphasised the importance of helping local NPOs in these financially challenging times.
“They don’t only need financial assistance; they need interim assistance too, such as helping with much-needed renovations to their properties and various forms of volunteer work. We urge more businesses to come on board and assist us with the planning of the 2025 Winter Festival for us to be able to help more people next year.”
Armand Botha can be contacted via email at armandbotha007@gmail.com for more information.
“A big thank you must go out to every sponsor and the community as well as our neighbouring towns for supporting us before, during and after the winter festival. As the chairperson of the winter festival, I also need to say a big thank you to our dedicated and hard-working committee, because, without all of you, a successful festival would not be possible,” he concluded.
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