Over the festive season, Gateway Theatre of Shopping is partnering with the children’s charity, Reach for a Dream, which raises funds to bring hope to children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.
“Shoppers have generously supported Reach for a Dream at Gateway for many years,” says Gateway Marketing Manager, Michelle Shelley. “We’re delighted to provide visitors with two opportunities to help children’s dreams come true at Gateway this year.”
Reach for a Dream’s KwaZulu-Natal Regional Manager, Kerry Donkin says the funds raised through donations at the Gift Wrapping Concierge and Disney Chari-tree go directly towards making children’s dreams a reality. “Especially at this time of the year, it’s a powerful way to impact these children and their families,” says Donkin.
Reach for a Dream is wrapping shoppers’ gifts at the Gift Wrapping Concierge outside the Ted Baker store in return for a donation. “There’s no fixed fee, but an R20 donation is the base rate. Last year we raised R180 000 at Gateway which enabled us to do so much. This year we’d love to improve on that,” says Donkin.
At the impressive Disney Chari-tree, decorated with character plush toys, love is channelled to ‘Dreamers’ in two ways. Firstly, in partnership with Toys R Us, R5 is donated to the charity for every Disney plush toy bought from the store.
Secondly, all the adorable Disney plushes on the tree are donated to the charity once the tree comes down. “When we visit children with life-threatening illnesses in hospital, these toys become a symbol of hope and a token of love from beyond the wards,” says Donkin.
The Reach for a Dream Foundation has been chasing children’s dreams for 35 years. For children facing a challenging time, Donkin says the charity enables whatever dreams they can – from an ice-cream to meeting a rugby star, a flip in a helicopter or a PlayStation.
