How can Marketing students make a difference? This was the challenge given to the Marketing Management honours students, who were tasked with developing a fundraising strategy in support of Phyllis Robertson Home (PRH) in Pretoria as part of the curriculum of one of their practical modules.

The students were very eager to give something back to a non-profit organisation and several creative ideas were born. The ‘Wheels-for-wheels’ campaign, ‘Pledge-a-can’, ‘Wall-of-light’, and ‘Stick-it-to-fix-it’, as well as a stationary drive and hunting raffle, were just some of the ideas suggested earlier in 2015.

With a lot of enthusiasm, student teams implemented their ideas throughout the year and managed to raise R103 000 in cash and kind. One of the groups had a very successful toiletry drive at Spar stores and collected a whopping R21 955 worth of toiletries. At the handover in August, each of the 65 Phyllis Robertson residents were spoiled with a gift bag of toiletries, cake and other snacks, as well as a television set for the home’s living room.

From left to right: Mr Stephan Smallberger, manager of PRH, with team members Marga Strydom, Taryn Bornman, Chelsey Kavanagh, Petra Sanne, Megalie Mendes, and Kristen Thompson, as well as some of the residence of PRH.

‘Keeping fit’ was Group 3’s theme, and they arranged a crossfit event in conjunction with Brooklyn CrossFit. The day consisted of 30 teams from various gyms taking part in the main CrossFit challenge. Not only did they create awareness and raise R5 000, but the group also donated 67 solar lanterns to ensure that the residence of PRH will always have light, even in the case of load shedding.

From left to right: Mr Stefan Smallberger and  Mrs Rina Bredenkamp  from PRH, with the students of Group 3: Dylan Newton, Lauren Wainwright, Jamie Muller, Kirsty Roebuck from CrossFit Brooklyn,  Tian Bothma, Frances Erasmus, Johan Vermeulen, and Tayla Robinson.

Group 5’s ‘Pledge-a-can’ initiative and donation rally in conjunction with Rietvlei Akademie was a great success. The group ultimately decreased the Home’s food expenditure bill through their R20 000 contribution, consisting of more than 1 000 non-perishable food items and a cash donation. The initiative drew to a surprising end for the residence with a special visit from the Blue Bulls players and a signed Blue Bull rugby jersey.

From left to right: Some of Group 5’s members: Reba Moleki, Nick Lazarides, Mutsa Munyaradzi, Dries Swanepoel, Nick Jones, and Mr Stephan Smallberger from PRH.

Groups 6 used Brooklyn Mall for its ‘Stick-it-to-fix-it’ campaign. Their creative money board truly drew attention, asking shoppers to stick their donations on the PRH’s logo, drawn on a large board. The board eventually looked like an art piece made out of money, R7 275 to be precise.

From left to right: Students from Group 6: Matthew Jardine, Annika Lange, Selwyn Gardiner, Kyle Wilmot, Taila Casquinha, Zine Nothnagel, and Antonia Carnelley-Bruyns.

Group 8 started a campaign called ‘Buckets-for-change’. The idea of the campaign was to hand out buckets to friends, family and congregation members of churches so that they could all fill the buckets with any loose change over a period of five weeks. The support poured in from all over and after countless bags and buckets of change, the group was able to make a cash donation of R20 666 to  PRH – illustrating the truth of the phrase “look after the pennies and the pounds will follow”. In addition, they also donated 250 magazines and 146 books.

Picture above: Reverend Clive from the Arcadia Anglican Church in Pretoria, holding one of the buckets ready to be distributed to volunteers interested in collecting change, with some members of Group 8: Navisha Naidoo, Nilene Grobler, Stephan du Plessis, and Megan Capitani.

From left to right: Some of the members of the ‘Wheels-for-wheels’ team: Tubuke Mwaisengela, Pebetsi Kekana,  Mologadi Mphahlele, Desiree Thobakgale, Sbongile Mnguni, and Thabiso Lelaka (back row), that targeted cycle events with their specially designed T-Shirts to create awareness.

The ‘Wall-of-light’ initiative was aimed at raising funds to replace old electricity bulbs with new energy saving LED globes and in doing so, reducing the Home’s electricity bill. Students sold ‘bricks’ at the entrance of the PRH for R500 each. Plaques with the name of the individual or organisation were then placed over their purchased bricks. A total of R28 000 was raised with this initiative, which exceeded all expectations, and 139 light bulbs were replaced. The team also created awareness for the Home with newspaper articles in local newspapers covering the official revealing of the ‘Wall-of-Light’ ceremony.

Left to right: Marika Vermeulen, Liezl Aylward, Mieke Bruins, Jessica Wheater, Rookaya Rahaman, and Joggie Vermooten at the ‘bricks’ they sold for the Wall-of-light.

Not only did students use their marketing skill for the greater good, but their initiatives also touched their hearts. One student remarked: “I never imagined that I could receive so much by giving back so little”.