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Mary Oppenheimer donates R1-billion to Solidarity Fund

Imogen Searra
5 years ago
5 years ago

Mary Oppenheimer and her daughters, Victoria, Rebecca, Jessica and Rachel have donated R1-billion to the Solidarity Fund.

The Solidarity Response Fund aims to bring South Africans and organisations together to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It is an initiative that has been set up to disseminate funds to initiatives that are working toward fighting the virus. It is run by the private sector.

“Across our country, people and organisations have offered to help and the Solidarity Fund is a vehicle that will be set up to facilitate this,” the website reads.

In a statement, Mary Oppenheimer said, “My daughters and I have thought long and hard about where we could make the greatest difference in this fight, and have decided it is to support the humanitarian needs of everyone living in South Africa. So we think it is the Solidarity Fund which is most aligned to our concerns about basic needs, food, medicine, general care and gender abuse.”

 

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#Repost @tamaryngreen ・・・ Lockdown: ‘Thuma Mina’ South Africa Inspired by @galgadot. We as Medical Doctors from The Republic of South Africa, who will be of service to our nation during the 21 day lockdown period, are raising awareness in an effort to raise funds for the @solidarityfundrsa. We humbly appeal to our fellow South Africans to PLEASE STAY HOME and to join in our efforts to help those affected and aid in combating this pandemic by contributing whatever you can to www.solidarityfund.co.za ? credit : @bronzemultimedia @dillonbhana Furthermore we challenge the following to post our video, create one of your own and further the cause to help the people of our country financially, whilst we battle COVID-19 on the medical front. @siya_the_bear_kolisi and his springboks @bokrugby @sivngesi @coconut_kelz @rachelkolisi @trevornoah @khayadlanga @gift.of.the.givers @instagram_sa @cricket_south_africa @qdk_12 @bonang_m @waydedreamer @akaworldwide @djfreshsa @tarinapatel @encanews @pearlthusi @iamjeannied @sabcsport @shashinaidoo @davidkau @greysabc @cutmaker @zuraidajardine @karishma_ramdev @wongley @adevanheerden @minniedlamini @lexleodrsmile @demileighnp @uzalo_sabc1 @official_misssa @sarahlanga @mmaponyane @somizi @nadiajaftha @ewnupdates @cyrilramaphosafoundation @sabc @cnn @lalla_hirayama @jsomethingmusic @rogerfederer @news24 @cnnafrica @thisisbillgates @bbcafrica @unicef_southafrica @elenapappas @kimjayde @mtvza @liesllaurie @jacarandafm @mtnza @vodacom @zakeeeyapatel @powerfm987 @metrofmsa @5fm@jacarandafm @djrogergoode @sureshnierider @nickhammangram @947breakfastclub @hulisanoravele @ayandamvp @zozitunzi @947joburg @talkradio702 —- #ThatsSolidarity #covid19sa #21dayslockdownsa #flattenthecurve

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A viral social media trend has emerged, where South Africans are nominating one another to share moments from their life that they are grateful for. The campaign was started by Robbie Ball, who is trying to spread some light in a dark situation. At the end of each post, the person nominated must select an organisation that they will donate to. The value of the donation is dependent on the number of likes the post gets. The nominee can attach a monetary value to each like (R1, R2, R3) and then this person must nominate others to continue the trend.

 

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After 6 months of no activity, my second Instagram post in 2 days might be a bit ballsy but what the heck, so was drop kicking for goal in extra time of a RWC final, and look how that turned out… 21 days (at least…) of being locked down at home is pretty average. I’ll miss socialising with friends and other family, I’ll miss going on runs or taking my dogs for a walk, but what I’ll miss most is driving in the Sabi Sands training to be a game ranger (what I was doing 6 days ago). The fact is that my lockdown situation is a lot more comfortable than most people’s in our country. This post is to raise awareness for those who don’t have the luxury of internet to keep themselves entertained, or a fridge full of food to feed their families. SA’s sovereign credit rating got downgraded to junk status by Moody’s on Friday, a major L for the economy, and and the reality is that the country’s wounds are going to take longer than 3 weeks to heal. I’d like to take a page out of @mikeyiswright book and use social media to raise funds and awareness. For every like that this post gets, I will donate R1 towards the Solidarity fund. This fund was set up to help prevent and detect the virus, care for those in hospital/medical care, and support those whose lives have been disrupted by the pandemic. For more info on the fund visit https://www.solidarityfund.co.za . If, somehow, this post gets more likes than my student achiever’s account allows, I will fundraise and find a way to meet my obligation. So please feel free to share and be generous with the ❤️ button. After listening to our president address the nation on Monday night and subsequently replaying the 2019 RWC final twice a day since, I’m feeling incredibly patriotic and believe that we can beat this thing, but only if we come to the party together (not literally), in some way or another. I’d therefore like to pass the baton onto @ashdonaldson02 and the influencer himself @jamie_battersby . Post a photo of what you are most grateful for during the lockdown, add your 2 cents and help build some momentum towards fighting this thing together by raising funds for a cause of your choice ???

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It is a moment to reflect on the people and experiences that a person is most grateful for, while simultaneously contributing to an amazing cause. If you want to join in on the fun, set up a post on Instagram, tag some friends and choose an organisation you wish to contribute to.

 

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Thank you @madscarter99 and @kathryn_wahl for the nomination. I have been reflecting a lot during this lockdown. As much as I miss the movie nights, runs around CT with my @kathryn_wahl and I’m worried about Uni, these problems are small in comparison to people whose livelihood is at stake. It’s easy to chat to our friends on FaceTime about how lucky we are to feel so safe and secure during a time like this but the solidarity fund gives us a chance to give and aid people who aren’t as privileged. So for every like this post gets I will donate R1 to the solidarity fund @solidarityfundrsa . I urge everyone to donate and specifically nominate @conno_tations @edward.baleni @jessedge1 and @keane_dooley ?? #thatssolidarity

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Picture: Unsplash

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