SPARKPORT WINTER WARMTH 2007

Sparkport Winter Warmth Drive 2007 began about two months ago. A lot of research was done about which individuals in the community that where deserving enough to receive these hampers. Babu Gany got 90% of the food that was distributed sponsored via his contacts. Tabloid, Rising Sun, Daily News and the Caxton group were approached to identify deserving individuals.

23 cases of can beans, 4 sacks of sugar beans, 60x1kg rice, tea bags, sugar, oil, soup, matches, mielie meal, instant meal, chips and dhall  where packed into over 220 hampers.

THE DISTRIBUTION

1. 46 packages to a Refugee Crèche in Pickering St

2. 22 Sparkport Staff

3. 5 Church Group

4. 9 Muslim Organization from Bonella

5. Foreman Rd Informal Settlement

6. Natal Blind and Deaf society – 7 Packages

7. S Dass school – 30 Packages

We where  well received by the Staff and pupils and they where extremely thankful for the packages received.

8. Phoenix Plaza – These names were submitted in by the Daily news and the Tabloid.

9. Sparkport – Quality St – These names where submitted by Tabloid . When we reached Quality St the Tabloid together with the hamper recipients where present.

10. Crossmoor – Chatsworth. This is a new informal settlement. We where taken  there with the Tabloid and lady named Shannon Walsh from the USA. The council were erecting tents for the inhabitants of the settlement when we arrived and Fatima Meer was also there. She was very greatful for Sparkport and their interest and assisstance.

11. Sparkport – Chatsworth. Names where submitted by the Daily news and Tabloid.Both the Tabloid and Rising Sun sun where there to document the happenings.

12. Daily News

13. Bonella / Mayville -  3 hampers where distributed in this area.

This Project was made possible with the HELP of these dedicated individuals from the Marketing Dept- Nasreen, Krishni, Nicola, Erfaan and Shamina.

SPONSORSHIPS

Being a community-driven organization, Sparkport prides itself on giving back to the communities which we serve. It is through this continuous support and loyalty of our valued customers that we have grown to become the largest pharmacy group in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Thus we are actively involved in sponsorships at all levels ranging from non profit organizations, previously disadvantaged schools, tertiary institutions, and various sporting codes.

CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation of South Africa

The CHOC Foundation is a country wide voluntary organisation.It brings together the parents of children who suffer from all varieties of cancer or life threatening blood disorders. The name CHOC (an abbreviation of "Childrens Haematology Oncolgy Clinics") was used by the first local parent group, established in 1979. The organisation which is not Government funded, provides direct pratcical help to children with cancer, from diagnosis onwards, recognising the inevitable disruption to family life when a child faces vigorous and often lengthy treatment. Funds raised are applied to directly benefit the children and their families, and also those involved in the treatment of these most serious illness.

Below Are The Non Profit Organisations Which We Sponsor:

SPONSORHIP TO SCHOOLS

Over the years that Sparkport has been in business, the Group has helped many schools by sponsoring fundraising events such as the debutantes balls, fun runs and fundraisings events. In addition to this the group also places adverts in school newspapers or brochures.

MY SCHOOL CARD

My School is South Africa's number one community support system. Over 500 000 parents and community minded people carry supporter cards. These cards are swiped every time a purchase is made at any one of our 2500 retail partners countrywide. Each transaction is recorded and a percentage of that transaction is paid to the school or charity of the supporters choice.As a loyal Sparkport customer you are able to swipe your My School card at any one of our 8 stores.

Below is a list of schools which we have sponsored:

OLD AGE HOMES

In everything that we do for our community we never forget the aged. Our group also sponsors the Bill Buchanan Association for the Aged, Age Secure and Aryan Benevolent Home.

BURSARIES

Sparkport also contributes to education at tertiary level whereby we give bursaries to deserving students.

SPORTS SPONSORSHIPS

Sparkport has, from its humble beginnings, supported community based projects as well as various sports which encouraged youngsters to stay away from the evils of drugs and alcoholism.

In the dark days of apartheid disadvantaged sport had very little sources of income and it was important for groups like ours to play a role although minor in the upliftment of various sporting codes. Sparkport is a major contributor to social investment and sports development in Durban.

Our significant financial commitment to development, besides meeting the commercial imperative of branding is based on the belief that sport is an instrument to foster mutual understanding, respect and nation building. We belief that sport will empower our youth to create a future society which is healthy, well-rounded and patriotic through the experiences and opportunities offered to them by the various sporting codes, one of which is project Delta.

CURRENT SPONSORSHIPS

SPARKPORT ORIENT ATHLETICS CLUB

As the years went by, the club was growing from strength to strength and there was a need for more sponsors to assist. Companies such as Jolly Grubber and others were willing to help and have been there ever since. However a bigger sponsor was needed to also assist in the running of the club. Fortunately this has been achieved recently, with Mr Solly Suleman, one of the Directors of Sparkport Pharmacies coming on board as the chief sponsor.

SYDENHAM SPORTS CLUB

Three athletics clubs in the Sydenham area, namely, Sydenham Athletics Club, Millennium Athletics Club and Jules Athletic Club merged to form the Sydenham Sports Club. The merger of these clubs would mean a unified body, with improved facilities, bringing together the best administrators, coaches and athletes for the benefit of all in the community. The merger would provide a common place for the young and not so young to meet and exploit their talents. This was seen as a chance to make Sydenham a well respected sporting community. Other benefits of the merge was that bigger and better sponsorships could be attained, the pooling of assets would allow for an even bigger membership and there would be experts of various disciplines all in one club.

THE COMRADES MARATHON

Sparkport has been involved with the Comrades Marathon for over ten years. The event has grown in popularity over the years, and Sparkport is proud to be associated with an event which is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s premier sporting events, as well as being the world’s greatest ultra marathon, and captures the imagination and fascination of the entire nation. Run every year on Youth day (16 June), it is considered appropriate as the race epitomises attributes of courage, commitment and camaraderie amongst its participants transcending cultural, racial, gender, age and socio-economic barriers.