Earlier this week Jarette Petzer, founder of the largest social movement for good in South Africa, #ImStaying, announced his resignation as CEO of the movement.
Petzer explained that he wanted to free up time to focus more intently on his latest project, Move ONE Million. He also felt that his resignation would also enable a more diverse leadership team to take the reins of #ImStaying. Petzer stated: “We have had an incredible journey with #ImStaying over the past year. We have opened the hearts and minds of the nation, and now it’s time for this incredible movement to grow into its purpose under the right leadership”.
Joanita van Wyk will remain committed to the #ImStaying movement and will continue as Director, Shireen Ebrahim will replace Petzer as company CEO.
Ebrahim is a woman of many talents. She is a businesswoman, philanthropist, community activist, wife, and doting mom. She serves as an Executive Director on the ICMT Group of Companies made up of various businesses in the IT, Training, and Retail space. She is also an Advisory Board Member on the South African International Film Academy and Awards.
She is the Founder and CEO of a non-profit, Charity Driven Organisation, and the Covid-19 Hero Awards aimed at recognizing and awarding essential frontline workers during the pandemic. Ebrahim is passionate about combatting gender-based violence against women and working with disadvantaged and underprivileged children. She is the founder of HEELS International Pty Ltd, a company that assists and supports women by focused empowerment projects and rewarding philanthropy efforts.
Ebrahim serves as a Board Director on the International Association of Pageantry in the USA and is also a Global Goodwill Ambassador for Humanitarian work in South Africa. She is also the 2020 Influential Woman of the Year Awards Recipient and has received various other professional accolades. Ebrahim is also known for her kind and humble demeanor. She has worked extensively with various charitable organizations and major corporates in her businesses and is without a doubt a huge asset to the #ImStaying movement.
Van Wyk stated, “The year has been life-changing with many achievements. Since #ImStaying’s inception in September 2019, we have grown to 1.2million members, initiated and collaborated on a number of fundraising campaigns and feel-good initiatives to uplift our communities and follow through on our motto of Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds.”
Some of #ImStaying’s past initiatives include the following but is not limited to:
• The #ImStaying community raised an incredible R 1 058 520.40 for food vouchers that were allocated to needy families across South Africa. The digital food vouchers helped to feed thousands of vulnerable South Africans.
• #ImStaying collected R257 000 for a farming community to assist them in the drought-stricken area. The contributions received from #ImStaying members assisted with feeding farmworkers and their families, the farmers, and their families, as well as supplying feed to the farm animals.
• During the lockdown, members of #ImStaying also contributed towards care packages for the Emfuleni community.
Ebrahim emphasizes, “I am excited to be joining the #ImStaying Foundation. My immediate priority is to continue the great work achieved and take it to the next level. #ImStaying has a strong reputation for delivering results. I am confident that by working together and focusing upon #ImStaying’s vision and mission and collaborating on long-term partnership and operational excellence, we can continue to enhance our experiences with members and supporters whilst strengthening our position for the future.”
2021 will focus on a wider range of community-based projects as well as the #ImStaying Community Heroes Humanitarian Awards and other trailblazing initiatives in collaboration with various renowned organizations and corporate sponsors. Ebrahim looks forward to the positive engagement and continued support. With Ebrahim at the helm, #ImStaying promises to continue to uplift and inspire the South African nation.
The ImStaying NPC board and management wishes Jarette Petzer the best in his future endeavors and they thank him for his efforts and contribution to the #ImStaying brand, despite his decision to step down as CEO, Petzer will always be remembered as the founder of the movement and will continue to have a working relationship with the team.
An exciting range of new fundraising campaigns that will undoubtedly warm the hearts of the Rainbow Nation, has already been announced.
The campaigns over the festive season include:
#ImSanta (this is a make-a-wish campaign in which individuals can make a wish for the festive season. We invite corporates and individuals to donate to grant the wishes of South Africans).
#ImStaying and Gift of the Givers Eastern Cape Aid (to support farmers, farmworkers, animal feed, disaster relief and the community as a whole).
Hampers4Hunger (aimed at providing food vouchers to impoverished families).
Kit-a-Kid (aimed at kitting children out in new uniforms for the 2021 school year).
#Care4Kids (a campaign aimed at providing care packages to underprivileged children)
More information pertaining to these and other campaigns will be available on the #ImStaying Facebook Group shortly.
To sign up as potential donor | sponsor | wish granter, please complete this document:
https://forms.gle/LL8d4VKzwv5CpNT77
#ImSanta #Donate #MakeAWish #FestiveSeason #ImStaying #IAM #WeThePeople #SouthAfrican #ProudlySouthAfrican #BeTheChange #Philanthropy #Sponsorship
