The Miss Charity event was hosted on Monday, 10 December at the Ochre Venue, Café Gannet Restaurant, attended by a group of selected guests with one thing in common – open hearts and hands towards worthy causes.
"Supporting something charitable has always been important to me," says pageant organiser, Lizette Ferreira, "Therefore, when Adri van Wyk from the Heart-to-Heart Care Centre in Mossel Bay approached us to host a separate event for Miss Charity, I was thrilled."
The Miss 7s Premier League finalists participating in the Miss Charity event were individually tasked to raise funds for safe houses accommodating battered women and children in George, Sedgefield and Knysna. "Thanks to Heart-to-Heart, this event gave us the opportunity to highlight the importance of not only possessing good looks, but to be able to reach out to those in need within the community, like the orphans and vulnerable children who are part of Heart-to-Heart's Programmes," said Ferreira.
According to Adri van Wyk, Director of Fundraising at Heart-to-Heart, who played a pivotal role in making the Miss Charity event happen; this lies at the core of what their organisation does, coined in their slogan – Restoring Hope!
"I think the Miss Charity event was a great value added experience and presented a meaningful purpose for the participants, which will enable us to continue and expand service delivery to those who need our help and intervention in their lives," said Van Wyk.
An auction was hosted during the event, with celebrity chef Francois Ferreira putting items under the hammer. These included collector's vintage wines, Jenna Clifford originals, weekend break-aways and original art by celebrated local artists, including Maria, Liani Swanepoel and Mariaan Kotzé. A 50cm paper mache chameleon, appropriately named 'Charity', was sold for R1 250!
The R24 850 raised at the auction goes directly towards service delivery by Heart-to-Heart Care Centre.
Ashleigh Soonius (20) from Rustenberg managed to raise R12 000, making her a worthy bearer of the Miss Charity title.
"I have a very soft heart and can't bear seeing people suffer. I entered this competition, having my sights firmly set on being crowned Miss Charity, because that is the title that truly matters to me," she said.
Ashleigh has been involved in various charity projects, reaching out to children with autism being particularly important to her. She raised her R12 000 for Miss Charity by approaching various businessmen in both her hometown Rustenburg and also in Johannesburg, clearly explaining her quest and what she was busy with.
Ashleigh won a Jenna Cilfford pendant, as well as a Michel Herbelin piece, valued at R8 000, donated by D'Amato Jewellers in George.
Guest of honour, Executive Mayor of Mossel Bay Alderlady Marie Ferreira, commended all the contestants on their efforts.
"The support of the Miss Charity event legitimises, making this an annual event for Heart-to-Heart Care Centre, thanks to the support of all our sponsors, but a very special word of thanks goes to the Mossel Bay Municipality for their valued sponsorship of the Fundraising Auction," said Van Wyk.
For a full list of sponsors, please refer to the letters column, "Lesers sê hul sê".
Miss Charity 2012, Ashleigh Soonius (20), raised R12 000 for shelters for battered women and children. Here she is with fundraiser Adri van Wyk (far left) and director Erica Caetano (far left), both from the Heart-to-Heart Care Centre, and the 'three Ferreiras' - Alderlady Marie Ferreira, Lizette Ferreira, Miss 7s pageant organiser, and celebrity chef and 'auctioneer', Francois Ferreira.
