Stockbrokers aim to make R1 million for charity
HOUGHTON - Well-known South African celebrities used their status for good when they took to the phones at the annual ICAP charity when they helped raise more than R1 million at the company's Houghton-based offices.
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Carte Blanche anchor Derek Watts, South Africa’s Got Talent judge Ian Von Memerty, and actress Carmel Fisher were among many well-known celebrities that took time out of their busy schedules to do some charitable work while having some fun with ICAP’s staff members.
ICAP is a markets operator and post trade risk mitigation and information services provider.
With help from the some well-known personalities, last year, R1.4 million was the result of the company’s brokers’ eight-hour efforts.
“Considering the economic times we are living in today, I am hoping we at least make R1 million today,” said Bob Jones-Davies, ICAP’s managing director.
The charity day was part of an international initiative by global company ICAP, whereby each office around the world would contribute all revenues and commission accumulated on the day to charities of their choice.
“This year we chose three charities: WaterAid, the Act Rhino Fund and The David Rattray Foundation, which were all discussed and vetted by the Round Table,” said Jones-Davies.
Money donated to WaterAid will go to support Founding their Future, an initiative which the water and sanitation charity is running in Madagascar.
“More than half of the population does not have safe water and 89 percent have nowhere safe to go to the toilet,” explained Jones-Davies.
“ICAP’s donation will also help the ACT Rhino Fund to intensify support for the on-the-ground efforts of game reserves, rangers and anti-poaching teams throughout South Africa.”
Some of the funds will also be used to extend aerial surveillance support to more game reserves in an effort to make a real difference in the poaching war.
Jones-Davies said, “The David Rattray Foundation will benefit by using all of the donated funds towards the construction of a new classroom block for Mhlazane Primary School which is currently overcrowded with an average of 51 children per classroom.”
“The funding would be used to help the community build a four-classroom block under the DRF Community Building Programme which engages local, unskilled community members, trains them, and guides them in the construction process, stimulating the local economy, providing an income to the community and imparting SETA accredited certified skills.”