Woolworths’ MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet is South Africa’s biggest fundraising programme. Every month, they donate more than R5 million to over 10 000 charities and schools, many in poor areas. Essenwood Residential Home is very proud to be one of the beneficiaries. The funds raised through the MyVillage programme helps us provide valuable services, care and assistance to our Resident ladies.
MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet also celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The Woolworths-led loyalty and corporate social responsibility programme has provided support of almost R1bn since its inception. The money raised, has been distributed to more than 8,000 schools and NGO beneficiaries across the country.
Celebration & Appreciation
Our blog this month serves THREE purposes. Firstly, it’s to celebrate an important partner’s equally important milestone. MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. A quarter of century of giving back to the community is, indeed, commendable. Secondly, it’s to acknowledge the innovation & spirit of the founders. In the same vein, the contribution of the General Manager of MySchool Pieter Twine.
Two inspirational Johannesburg-based parents established MySchool in 1997. It was a initially a means to help schools sustainably raise funds. Woolworths became the programme’s anchor partner two years later. Although the programme initially focused only on schools, its success with customers saw it expand to include charitable organisations. MyVillage and MyPlanet were launched in 2006 and 2008, respectively.
Pieter Twine has headed up the programme for over two decades. He has seen the program grow from a small entrepreneurial business to becoming part of the Woolworths Group of companies. He’s also helped MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet win numerous awards & accolades along the way.
Thirdly, it is to acknowledge the generosity of the retail partners. It is their generosity that drives this program. The programme thrives on a simple mechanism. Every time you swipe at a participating retailer, the retailer donates a percentage of your spend to your chosen cause. Major retail partners including Woolworths, Engen, and Loot.co.za among others. A full list is available on their website. You can also look out for the signage at pay points to identify your local and regional business partners.
“We would like to inspire many more people in South Africa to join us on the journey and live out our purpose of making a difference.”
Pieter Twine, General Manager of MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet
You can be a part of this giving, without costing you anything!
Join MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet today. The process is simple. You can either sign up at your nearest Woolworths store, or you can sign up via their website. All that we ask is that you choose Essenwood Residential Home as a beneficiary. And that’s it! Well, almost – that’s the first part done. The second part is even simpler…
You Shop, You Swipe, You Give!
Once you sign up, all you have to do is swipe your card at the many retail partners. Basically, they have all committed to give a portion of your spend to your beneficiary, at no cost to you. How cool is that? More so, how generous is that?
Fundraising is key to our survival. That’s the honest, brutal truth. We also understand that times are really tough. Many would love to give, but find it difficult to afford to. That’s why we’re appealing to you to join this programme. It will cost you nothing more than a swipe. But that swipe, coupled with the generosity of the retail partners, help keep our coffers flowing. That help keeps our doors open & our hearth burning warm. It keeps a roof on our heads & a hearty meal on our plates. It keeps our residents happy, that’s all we ask for, and all you have to do is swipe…
