Kerry Haggard is mom to the two most beautiful boys that ever there were, and along with nine other Johannesburg working moms, tries to help out less fortunate children by working together in a group called Third Thursday. Follow her on Twitter @KerryHaggard
Eight years ago, my friend Helen Pournara decided that the time had come to get involved firsthand in helping charities that work with children, and she roped in a few of her friends to get their hands ‘dirty’ to help her. Since then, although our group has changed a bit in composition, we still do the same thing: we raise funds at events to support the practical needs of charities that work with children, and from time to time, we go to where the children are, and get directly involved.
We’ve had tremendous support over the years – speakers such as Ruda Landman, Debora Patta, Deshun Deysel, Graeme Codrington and Gill Marcus have all spoken at our events without any charge, and the venues that have hosted us have all done their part to keep costs under control. The charities we’ve worked with have included the Big Shoes Foundation, the Tsholofelo Baby Sanctuary, and the LEAP Science and Maths School in Alexandra, among others.
This year we’ve roped in Helen Zille to help us raise funds to buy a vehicle for the Mthimkhulu Stimulation Centre in Soweto. The Centre cares for profoundly mentally handicapped children during the day, so that their parents can go to work. However, it’s really difficult to get the kids there – many of them can’t walk, and it’s a real struggle to get them to the centre by taxi. The centre wants to buy its own wheelchair-friendly vehicle so that it can relieve the parents of the burden of transport.
Mrs Zille will be speaking at a fundraising breakfast at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton on 14 July 2012, and she’s also not charging for her time. It’s not a politicking event – it’s an opportunity to hear one of South Africa’s most famous women speak about her own experiences, and she’s flying up from the Western Cape specially for the event.
Because Third Thursday is a completely voluntary organization, every penny of the profit we make on the day will go to Mthimkhulu – and the Hilton has been very kind in helping us keep costs to an absolute minimum.
The group also goes all out to make sure that as many guests as possible get to go home with something special too – and we’ve already got loads of giveaways and auctions lined up, including local getaways and other items.
So… if you’re one of those folks who would really like to do something to make a difference, but you’re not sure how… how about booking a seat or a table for breakfast with Helen Zille on 14 July? Seats are R250 per person, including a full breakfast and beverages. Make your booking on info@thirdthursday.co.za – no tickets will be sold on the day.
Here’s what some other Jozikids bloggers have to say about the event:
@StacyVee: http://www.livinglionheart.co.za/2012/06/clink-tea-cup-with-helen-zille-its-for.html
@Angelsmind: http://www.angelsmind.co.za/2012/05/24/heres-your-chance/
@TanyaKovarsky: http://www.rattleandmum.co.za/2012/05/24/come-breakfast-with-helen-zille/
