REACHING FOR DREAMS MADE EASIER WITH RE/MAX RE/MAX of Southern Africa firmly believes in contributing to a better society. What better way can there be than to assist the process of making the very special dreams of children struggling with debilitating illnesses come true. Since 2004, RE/MAX has contributed more than R4 million to the Reach for A Dream Foundation, an organisation dedicated to the belief that children can beat life-threatening illnesses by dreaming of better things. The Foundation was founded on July 7 1988 by Owen Parnell. On that day "JC" Steinman of Johannesburg was treated to rides on a pony and a motorcycle for his birthday.
Since that first dream, it has fulfilled the dreams of more than 6 300 children. On average three dreams are fulfilled each day and five outings arranged each weekend nationally.
Says Keith Scafturis, Marketing Director of RE/MAX of Southern Africa: "In terms of our contributions, those to the Reach for A Dream Foundation have been most gratifying. It is such a wonderfully tangible experience to be present when a child realizes a dream."
The Foundation is self-financing and relies solely on the generosity of the public contributions that assist with the dreams of children between the ages of 3 and 18 years old.
There are many examples of how RE/MAX aided the foundation's process. On March 28 this year, young Dumisa's dream of owning a Playstation game came true in Cape Town.
Dumisa was very shy, but his mom was wonderful on the occasion. She was just as excited as he was, and when asked whether he can remember what his dream or wish was, he immediately responded: "TV Games!" Needless to say, he was absolutely delighted and the facial expression said it all.
In February, six-year-old David was in seventh heaven when he realized that the Foundation and RE/MAX contributed to making his dream of owning a trampoline come true.
Some blue and green helium balloons were put around the trampoline which had been installed in David's family's garden that day. The team had just finished putting them up when David came screaming through the garden door. His mom had arranged that they would get back from school at just the right time!
So in came David, bubbling with excitement, only to see two strangers that he probably wasn't expecting. He did a 360 degree turn-around and waited for his mom to catch up with him until he felt ready to investigate his new trampoline. He was a little shy to begin with, but soon warmed up to us and in no time showed us his tricks, clearly very at home on his trampoline, as if he was born to do it.
In March, 14-year-old Mosa Ntlatseng got to see the fabulous aquarium in Cape Town. Mosa has been at Red Cross Hospital for 8 months recovering from a liver and kidney transplant. Coming from Johannesburg, she had no idea where the team was going until we got to the Waterfront. She was so excited when we entered the aquarium and saw all the "Nemos" swimming in the tank. She was fascinated with all the fish and sea animals, sharks and penguins. When we finished she wanted to go through the aquarium again!
Her ambition in life is to become a fashion designer and her dream was to go shopping for clothes. We decided to fulfil her dream another day, as she was very tired. She was taken to Cavendish Square. She was absolutely delighted and had such good taste in choosing her clothes, mixing and matching with great flair.
These stories illustrate to some extent the joy experienced by the children. Those who have been involved with the Foundation for a while never tire of being present when the kids express their joy.
"RE/MAX certainly plan to continue our involvement with the Reach for A Dream Foundation. It is a rare pleasure to see real dreams materialize," says Scafturis.
To read more about RE/MAX of Southern Africa's sponsorship of Reach for a Dream, go to www.reachforadream.org.za
2007 RE/MAX International. All rights reserved.