Novel drive for sports funds

THE Phoenix Youth Centre has come up with an innovative way to raise funds for sports development among young people, while at the same time helping schools and community organisations raise money to ease the burden of mounting bills.

During the Phoenix Sports Festival at the Rydalvale Grounds at the weekend, the youth centre launched a raffle project with the prize being a blue Mazda Go valued at R100 000.

According to the voluntary secretary of the centre, Sham Maharaj, 5 000 raffle books were printed and have been distributed to 20 schools and 10 community organisations in the area so far.

The booklets, he said, had 20 raffle tickets, each valued at R10. If all the tickets were sold, R1 million would be raised.

Maharaj said that R100 000 would offset the cost of the car purchased by the centre, and the remaining R900 000 would be used for schools, organisations and sports development.

“Each of the schools and community organisations that sells the booklets will keep 50 percent of the ticket sales, which could be used to maintain the premises or for security. The remaining R450 000 will be invested in next year’s Phoenix Sports Festival.”

He said the festival was aimed at encouraging young people to participate in cricket, soccer, netball, volleyball and athletics.

“Children need to be mentored and developed in sports, so that if there are any big future events, like the Commonwealth Games, there are youths from Phoenix, who could possibly participate.”

The raffle draw to find the owner of the Mazda Go will take place during Diwali celebrations on November 1 at the Rydalvale Grounds. POST is a media partner in this upliftment project.

If you would like to become part of this project, call Amith Maharaj at the centre at 031 500 4723.