Shoppers in the Greater Johannesburg area have made their purchases count by raising over R22 million in MySchool funds over the last year.
MySchool, MyVillage, MyPlanet cardholders in the greater Johannesburg area have raised millions for a range of schools, charities and conservation organisations.
The Sandton and Eastern metro SPCA is a firm favourite for Johannesburg shoppers and they received more than R180 000 during the last fundraising period, thanks to shoppers swiping their cards.
The SPCA has a mobile clinic that regularly provides essential health care and veterinary services including sterilisation in certain communities. With kennels in Marlboro Gardens, the Sandton SPCA provides shelter, rehabilitation, lost-and-found and adoption programmes. MySchool is an integral annual fundraising channel for the organisation, which cares for up to 100 dogs at any given time and allocates the funds towards vital operational and communication costs.
BirdLife is another beneficiary of the programme and more than R120 000 was raised for them last year. The organisation raises the importance of awareness of South Africa’s rich diversity of birds and the need to conserve the 847 species that live in the country. According to the 2015 Red Data records, 161 species of South Africa’s birds are threatened or near-threatened, while 13 species are listed as critically endangered. BirdLife allocates its MyPlanet funds towards a variety of vital awareness projects such as social media campaigns, education programmes involving rural youth and The African Bird Fair.
Nationally, MySchool, MyVillage, MyPlanet has raised over R70 million for South African schools, charities and environmental organisations thanks to the support of its 1.2 million customers, who choose to give back as they shop.
Pieter Twine, MySchool’s general manager said, “Every year it’s a delight to see how cardholders, schools, charities and businesses are working together to make every swipe count.
“We have become one of the country’s biggest community fundraising programmes, enabling South Africans to make a difference, just by shopping. Well done, Joburg shoppers for playing your part!”
To sign up for your free MySchool, MyVillage, MyPlanet card online, please visit: www.myschool.co.za and select up to three schools, charities and conservation organisations you would most like to support.
Swipe your card every time you shop at a range of participating retailers including Woolworths, Bidvest, Waltons, Engen food shops, Flight Centres and one of South Africa’s biggest online stores, www.loot.co.za. With every swipe, the retail partner makes a donation to your selected beneficiary, at no cost to you.
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