George, South Africa

South Africa Celebrates a Union of Golf & Giving at the Gary Player Invitational

Black Knight International and The Player Foundation are pleased to announce the beneficiaries for this year’s Gary Player Invitational, Presented by Coca-Cola. Funds raised will benefit the following charities this year:

  • Twilight Children
  • Bana Development Centre
  • The Masizame Children’s Shelter

Phillip Schaefer wrote `The twilight world of street children` in 1989 and depicted the life of a street child as follows: “As a bitter highveld winter wind whips through the suburbs of Johnnesburg, ten-year-old Moses, huddled in the doorway of a shop in Hillbrow, pulls another piece of cardboard over his body and takes a sniff from his glue bottle, hoping it will block out the cold and bring him some sleep”.

Every child is a miracle, a gift entrusted to our care. These innocent beings deserve a chance to survive along with the right to shelter and warmth, clothing, a sense of security, food and love. The above beneficiaries were carefully selected by the organizers for their commitment to meeting these basic needs and ensuring that these children have access to a better life through education.

Established in Hillbrow, Johannesburg in 1983, Twilight Children provides emotional, educational and physical support to young boys living on the streets and in other public places without adequate adult support structures.

These boys live in the major urban and inner city centers of Johannesburg. The program provides them with a sanctuary, a place of refuge from the callous life on the streets. Thereafter, and where possible, they are encouraged to return to the care of a family member or a suitable guardian. Twilight provides counseling to these guardians where required.

In cases where boys cannot be reunited with their families, Twilight assists them with securing alternative accommodation and provides support, thus limiting their exposure to the undesirable aspects of street life, such as drug abuse, crime, sexual abuse and the inevitable deterioration of their self esteem.

The Bana Development Centre supports and educates toddlers between the ages of 3 and 5. Their core mission is to provide a safe environment where these toddlers are able to develop and grow. Each toddler has a chance to experience a life fantastic. Through The Bana Development Centre, toddlers have a chance at a fresh start. They are taken on a journey of self-development in a warm atmosphere of special understanding and care. The centre fulfills the social, physical, emotional, developmental and psychological needs of each toddler.

Masizame is a Xhosa word meaning “Let Us Try!” In 1992 a group of local businesswomen were motivated to do something about the phenomenon of the street children in the greater Plettenberg Bay area. The Masizame Children’s Shelter aims to restore self-dignity through equipping children with life skills. The Shelter has an extensive geographical reach, and until 2006, they were the only registered Shelter for Orphaned & Vulnerable Children (OVC) in the Southern Cape. The children that come into the shelter are victims of a society that has failed them. As a result of sexual abuse, many of the children are infected with HIV/Aids and other life threatening illnesses.

South Africa’s fragile little souls did not choose their circumstances and are facing some of the most atrocious situations on a daily basis. Through philanthropic events such as the Gary Player Invitational and the dedicated support of organizations such as Twilight, Ebana and Masizame, these children have a chance at a new beginning. The presenting partner to the Gary Player Invitational, Coca-Cola, has once again committed to be a part of this union of golf and giving.

This year’s event will take place from the 20th - 21st November at The Links at Fancourt in George, and will once again see the gathering of professional golfers, businessmen and celebrities to raise funds for a worthy cause.

Tournament spectator tickets are available from www.computicket.com for R75.00 each and are valid for both days play.Fans can visit the official Gary Player Facebook Fan Page for a chance to win tickets to this prestigious event where they can watch international golfing legends compete in spectacular surroundings.

For Media Queries please contact Matchworld (Pty) Ltd.
Natasha Terlecki
Matchworld PR
Email: nterlecki@matchworld.co.za
Tel: 011 305 9873 Tel: 083 677 9090




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