The 12th annual Agrimark Supplier Golf Day was the most successful ever.
The fundraiser generated donations of over R215 000 in cash and gardening equipment valued at R110 000. In an impromptu display of compassion, never before experienced at the Golf Day, suppliers rallied around Tholeni Village, a small community in the Eastern Cape, responding to the community's plight. During the evening function, as they heard the heartbreaking stories of the mothers of Tholeni, suppliers spontaneously pledged additional products and funds to the donation already announced, underscoring the powerful platform the Agrimark Golf Day provides to leverage support for important causes.
Tholeni Village is grappling with severe malnutrition challenges aggravated by a high unemployment rate. The impact on the children of the village has been most profound, with instances of children going without food for days. This leads to impaired development and growth.
In some heartbreaking cases, the near-starvation conditions have resulted in hospitalisation and even death. When Gift of the Givers became aware of the
dire situation in the community, they responded swiftly and provided food parcels to the community. With the help of Agrimark’s golf day proceeds, they can now offer the community a more sustainable solution.
“We were deeply moved by the plight of the people of Tholeni Village and grateful for the opportunity to contribute towards positive change in their circumstances,” says Sean Walsh, CEO, KAL Group. “We hope to help 50 households with their own vegetable gardens so that the community can grow its own sustainable source of fresh and nutritious produce.”
Agrimark’s donation included irrigation equipment and horticultural implements such as water tanks, hoses, rakes, spades and digging forks which Gift of the Givers will use to kickstart the food garden project.
“Thank you to everyone involved in the Agrimark Golf Day for their generosity and support in helping the people of Tholeni Village,” says Corene Conradie, Coordinator at Gift of the Givers. “We hope to see a significant turnaround in their daily struggles, and we are grateful that we can make a difference in their lives.”
“The success of the Supplier Golf Day this year exemplifies the strength of the relationships we’ve cultivated with our suppliers, who demonstrated exceptional generosity and willingly devoted time to connect and strengthen these invaluable partnerships,” says Hennie Smit, Director: Supply Chain.
“This event goes beyond a day of leisure; it reflects a shared commitment to the growth of our business and making a meaningful impact. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our suppliers for their collaborative efforts toward a better, more sustainable future for the people in our communities,” reiterates Sean.