AFTER hosting a successful wine-tasting event in April this year, the Marina Martinique’s Homeowners’ Association (HOA) was able to raise R42 000 for two local charities, the JBay Recycling Project and JBay Animal Rescue Sanctuary.
As previously reported by Kouga Express, the first Crú du Marina, a wine-tasting event which saw visitors transported by boat to 10 stunning homes along the Marina to enjoy a vast variety of wine, took place on April 15.
The wine-tasting event was held to raise funds for the JBay Recycling Project and JBay Animal Rescue Sanctuary.
Project manager for the HOA, Roel Bester, said that their first wine-tasting event on the waterways of Marina Martinique was a tremendous success.
He said that it was a beautiful, sunny day to host their guests and participating wine farms.
“About 400 ticketholders came out to support a worthy cause and enjoy a fun-filled day of wine tasting and meeting up with friends and family,” said Bester.
“The feedback from our guests was overwhelmingly positive, and we have already received numerous requests to host the event again next year.”
With the funds raised at the wine tasting event, Bester said that it was an absolute pleasure to hand over R21 000 each to the JBay Recycling Project and JBay Animal Rescue Sanctuary in May.
“The beneficiaries were elated and incredibly grateful for the donations, as they solely rely on donations from local businesses and the public to run their charities,” said Bester.
He said that they were thankful for the support they received from the HOA, NSRI, Gardmed Ambulance Service, Kouga Municipality and Councillor Marthina van Niekerk, who all contributed to the success of the event.
Bester further said thahe would like to thank the Marina Martinique security team who made sure the guests felt sa fe hopping on and off the barges, and ensuring there were no serious incidents.
“A big thank you to all our ticketholders for their support and everyone involved in making the event a great success,” said Bester.
The event organising team included Bester, Melanie Greyling, Merecia Thomas and Kathleen Aucamp.
Co-founder and vice-chairperson of the JBay Animal Rescue Sanctuary, Cindy Muller, said that they were very grateful for the donation received from the HOA.
“We have so many areas that would benefit from this donation. We are currently helping with food and sterilisation of animals, and our kennels and building are also being repaired. This donation will help to fund these projects,” said Muller.
Committee member and secretary at the JBay Recycling Project, Kelly Tommelein, said that they felt extremely honoured and blessed to have been chosen as one of the two charity projects in Jeffreys Bay for the first Crú du Marina fundraising initiative.
She said that they had no idea what to expect when they were informed they were recipients of the HOA’s fundraising efforts. Instead, they were mainly happy that through the event more people would learn about their project and their needs.
“The amount of R21 000 was so much more than we had thought. Since we run the project solely from donations, this funding will make a huge difference in being able to supply goods needed for our shop,” said Tommelein.
She said that they were appreciative that their recycling project has added value to the community.
“This fundraiser is proof of how wonderful a community can be and the things that can be achieved when working together,” said Tommelein.
She said that their biggest cost each year is stocking up on school supplies, uniforms, and shoes for the 200 to 250 children who benefit from their organisation.
“This donation really means a lot to the recycling project and all the people involved,” said Tommelein.
