Businesses can make a major difference in their community in many ways.
More than 700 offices in more than twelve countries participated on the same day in a variety of projects to improve the community in which they do business.
All the Keller Williams offices in South Africa, or market centres as they are known, were involved in community projects in their areas as part of the group’s worldwide RED Day campaign. More than 700 offices in more than twelve countries participated on the same day in a variety of projects to improve the community in which they do business.
Each of the offices was asked to identify and coordinate an activity which will have a visible impact on their local community and surroundings. Amongst the beneficiaries were various old age homes, community centres, as well as special interest groups.
KW Advance, in the Roodepoort area, supported the Baby Moses Child Sanctuary for abused and abandoned babies and toddlers by way of financial assistance, painting and toys.
The recipients were impressed with the Keller Williams-members’ efforts at their institutions. “It was an absolute privilege to be part of such an initiative,” says Estelle Mengel, senior staff member at the Emthonjeni community centre in the Zandspruit informal settlement near Johannesburg.
“The Keller Williams staff had gone to extra-ordinary lengths to help us and even assisted with physical labour.”
For a single day property professionals rolled up their sleeves to paint rooms, do necessary repair work and even laid grass and paving to improve the facilities of community centres and old age homes.
A few offices also managed to get other sponsors involved that enabled them to make generous donations of products that are desperately needed at those centres.
KW Explore’s operating principal, Dean Ferreira says when you give from the heart, the results are amazing.
Since the first RED Day in 2009, Keller Williams associates have given almost half a million hours of community service through activities ranging from food and blood drives to cleaning up trash in public parks, revamping gardens at nursing homes and rebuilding houses and schools for community members in need. It is one of the largest events in the realty industry.
According to Niël Cronje, chief executive of Keller Williams, RED Day is a one day expression of what happens throughout the year in the Keller Williams culture. It is seeing a need, discovering who can meet that need and then getting it done.
In Pretoria KW Elite (Pretoria East) spent a day at the Margaretha Ackerman old age home, where the old people were pampered all day with bingo, lunch and other activities. Necessary repair work was done and a load of valuable medicine and equipment were donated. KW Centurion entertained the residents of the Lofdal retirement village.
In Kwazulu-Natal the KW Zimbali team spent a day at the Westbrook retirement village where members have painted the residents hall, bathroom, kitchen and office, and a lawn was laid. Lunch was served and the residents were pampered with a serenade of songs, hand massages and manicures for the ladies. A medical team spent time with each resident to establish their needs and left valuable medical supplies behind.
In Somerset West the team from KW Cape Town spoilt the frail care ladies from the Le Clemence Old Age home. At the Sometset West Garden Village Community Centre the pensioners and children were entertained all day.
In Randburg the team from KW Explore revamped the learning centre from the Emthonjeni community centre in the Zandspruit informal centre and entertained the kids with jumping castles and face painting. Containers full of disposable nappies, clothes and furniture were collected from businesses and individuals, and then delivered at the centre.
The team from KW Ultimate, in Midrand established a fund of R30 000 for the Thuthukani centre, which houses 300 children, to help with repairs of the roof ceiling and carpets that were damaged by recent rains. They also spent a day there to help with the repairs.
The KW Hermanus team did not only spend a day at the orphanage in Hawston to entertain the kids, but also helped with painting, new carpets, flooring and furniture.
In Roodepoort KW Sync linked up with various companies to help the Faery Glen School, which is almost the only school in Johannesburg to cater for the needs of children with autism, to create a sport facility for the older children where they can get rid of excess energy. The KW Sync team helped to find the necessary equipment and got involved with painting and preparing it.
At the Tshepo Day Care centre in Mangaung pensioners received food parcels from KW Bloemfontein and the children were fed and entertained.
In Edenvale KW Clockwork collected old clothes from the public, which were distributed to the homeless in the area.
KW Dubai joined forces with KW Zimbali to donate vegetables, fruit, toys, books and clothing to the Kwa Mama Care Centre in Shakashead in Kwazulu-Natal, where children orphaned by HIV/Aids are cared for.
KW Zambezi spent a day at the Uitkoms centre in Montana in Pretoria to entertain the residents and day visitors who are all mentally handicapped adults. While KW Sandton collected money for the SPCA and assisted with walking the dogs.
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