Smuts and Taylor Celebrates Nelson Mandela`s Birthday By Giving Back
Released on: August 11, 2008, 12:45 am
Press Release Author: Mike Smuts
Industry: Human Resources
Press Release Summary: London-based South African Investment Firm Smuts & Taylor holds casino night fundraising event in for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund on Mandela's 90th birthday.
Press Release Body: London, United Kingdom, August 11, 2008 -- On Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, many celebrated the political activist's life and reflected on his many humanitarian accomplishments. A new UK real estate investment firm, however, decided to celebrate Mandela's birthday by throwing a charity event that would help further his many causes in South Africa. Smuts & Taylor, a South African investment firm based in London, threw its first event, charity or otherwise, on July 18, raising money for Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF).
The firm took a break from assisting their clients in building long-term property portfolios to host a Casino Extravaganza at OneOneFive Chancery Lane, creating the atmosphere of a luxury casino complete with roulette and blackjack tables, swirling contemporary music, silver trays balancing elegant cocktails, and professional croupiers dressed in sleek black eveningwear. Although the stakes were not high in the traditional sense, guests played to support youth programmes in South Africa with each roll of the dice or hand of cards.
"As a South African company, and as a company with a number of South African clients, we keep the continuing needs of that nation close to our hearts, even from far-away London," said Mike Smuts, the managing director of Smuts & Taylor. "We wanted our first company event to represent both our company's values and the values of our clients - and in both of those senses the casino night was a great success. Everyone present was looking forward to future events. We have decided that his will be an annual event on Mandela's birthday and the NMCF will be our company's official charity organization."
The night culminated in a "high-stakes" blackjack play-off round between the top nine gamblers of the night, with the remaining guests looking on in anticipation. The overall winner was given his choice of the event's donated prizes, with each runner-up choosing in kind.
All proceeds were donated directly to the NMCF, which was founded by Mandela in 1994 and which works to develop programmes that improve the wellbeing of children in South Africa.
"We are very grateful for your support, please extend our thanks to all those involved in the event," wrote Rachael Ward, the Head of Fundraising for NMCF UK. "NMCF is still a relatively young charity, but our work with disadvantaged children is now well grounded in all nine provinces of South Africa and we are well aware of the need that still exists. We are entirely reliant upon the support of individuals and corporations to ensure that the work continues which is why this donation is so valued by us all."
Among the prizes and sponsors for the night were a seven-day, six-night self drive tour of the Western Cape courtesy of Live The Journey; a weekend in Franschhoek and a weekend in Big Bay, both courtesy of Alto Home Services; a two-night mini-cruise to Spain courtesy of Diamond Fun Casinos; a long weekend bike tour of Sabi game reserve courtesy of SEESA Commercial; a magnum of U'luvka Vodka courtesy of U'luvka Vodka UK; a magnum of champagne courtesy of OneOneFive; four cases of Cusquena super premium lager courtesy of Cusquena, and two pairs of Dirty Dog sunglasses courtesy of DirtyDog SA.
For more information on NMCF, please visit http://www.nmcf.co.za/index.html. For more information on Smuts & Taylor, please visit www.smutsandtaylor.com.
About Smuts & Taylor, Ltd.:
Smuts & Taylor, Ltd. is a South African investment firm based in London. Since its inception in 2008, the firm's mission has been to assist South African investors to enter the United Kingdom property market through Complete Profile Management (CMP), a system that provides clients with a step-by-step investment plan targeted at long-term success. Smuts & Taylor helps their clients every step of the way, from finding the right property and securing lending through to securing the first tenant. For more information, please visit www.smutsandtaylor.com. Press Release Distribution By PressReleasePoint(http://www.pressreleasepoint.com)
Press Contact: Mike Smuts Smuts & Taylor Ltd Office 404, 4th Floor Albany House 324/326 Regent Street London W1B 3HH 0207 2234 109 enquiries@smutsandtaylor.com http://www.smutsandtaylor.com/
Web Site: http://www.smutsandtaylor.com/
Contact Details: Mike Smuts Smuts & Taylor Ltd Office 404, 4th Floor Albany House 324/326 Regent Street London W1B 3HH 0207 2234 109 enquiries@smutsandtaylor.com http://www.smutsandtaylor.com/