Words Of Appreciation From Our Beneficiaries

PENINSULA SCHOOL FEEDING ASSOCIATION

The Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) extends its sincere gratitude to Lewis Stores for its unwavering support and generous financial contributions over the past 14 years. Your steadfast commitment to our adopt-a-school nutrition support programme has profoundly impacted countless children's lives.

Thanks to your dedication and kindness, we have been able to provide nutritious meals to learners affected by poverty who might otherwise go hungry. Your support has not only helped to fill their tummies but also fuels their dreams, enabling them to focus on their education and build a brighter future, because you can’t teach a hungry child.

Your long-term investment in our mission speaks volumes about your compassion and belief in the power of community and education. It's because of donors like Lewis Stores, that we can continue to make a difference, one meal at a time.

Once again, thank you for being an integral part of our journey. We look forward to your continued partnership as we strive to feed even more needy children.

CHILDREN OF THE DAWN

"Thank you so much for your donations. Your generosity means everything to us and to the communities we serve. We know you have a lot of choices when it comes to donating, and we are so grateful that you chose to donate to our cause. We promise to be responsible stewards of both your donation and your trust😊🌻.

We are extremely proud to count you amongst our donors and would like to express our deep gratitude for your commitment to Children of the Dawn.”

LEARN TO EARN

Learn to Earn (LtE) is a skills development organisation, working with unemployed people from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds in Khayelitsha and Hermanus in the Western Cape. LtE's mission is to develop people, especially unemployed people, socially, economically, emotionally and spiritually. LtE’s vision remains consistent for over 30 years: to eradicate unemployment and other legacies of injustice in South Africa and Africa.

Since 2010, The Lewis Group has contributed over R1.3 million to LtE’s Training & Development programme. This funding was allocated to at least 125 unemployed individuals participating in LtE’s whole person focused skills programmes, with core skills ranging from Bake for Profit, Barista, Handyman, Woodwork, Basic Sewing through to Business Skills and Office Administration training. Through a minimal (under 3% of total cost) but compulsory contribution towards their training fees, LtE students become partners and have a sense of ownership in the process. This forms a part of “the hand-up, not a hand-out” philosophy of development.

On behalf of Learn to Earn staff and students – we are very grateful for this ongoing partnership with The Lewis Group!

SA CHILDREN'S HOME

It is with profound gratitude that the SA Children's Home acknowledges the generous financial support of Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd. We extend our sincere thanks for recognizing the needs of our organization and actively contributing to making a difference year after year. Without dedicated supporters like Lewis Stores (Pty) Ltd, our capacity to care for our children would be constrained. Your steadfast commitment to the SA Children’s Home and the well-being of the children under our care is invaluable to us. Your support directly contributes to the sustainability of our organization, ensuring we can continue our mission of providing a safe and nurturing environment for the children in our care.

DURBANVILLE CHILDREN'S HOME

The Lewis Group has contributed in a significant way to the wellbeing of the 144 vulnerable children in the care of Durbanville Children's Home, over the past few years.

Through funding Lewis enabled Durbanville Children’s Home to host events to generate funds that we use for our Bridging program, assisting our children to study further after school and find employment. Lewis also donated goods as prizes and auction items to generate further funding at these events.

We also receive financial assistance towards our educational program, enabling us to buy school clothes and stationery.

The Lewis Group has also shown their commitment to Socio-economic Development by their personal interest in the programmes and children at the Durbanville Children's Home. Attending fundraising events and enquiring on a regular basis about the well-being of our beneficiaries has been a great motivator to our organisation.

CANCER ASSOCIATION OF NAMIBIA

“For nearly 2 decades the relationship between Lewis Group and the Cancer Association of Namibia has impacted the trajectory of cancer in Namibia and touched the lives of our people. From funding screening campaigns to the “Circle of Hope” psychosocial support programme, and more recently the newly established CHICA Interim Home for brave young childhood cancer fighters, this partnership of hope lives up to CAN’s motto – Inspire hope, activate change and impact lives!”

iTHEMBA PLACE OF HOPE

We are exceedingly grateful to the Lewis Group for their long-standing partnership with us. Their unwavering support over the years has awakened hope in the hearts of many underprivileged children by affording them the opportunity to access quality education. Based on the iThemba Campus in Hillcrest KwaZulu-Natal, Focus on iThemba is an established nonprofit, public benefit organisation who has been committed to making a lasting impact in the communities we serve for over 20 years. Through quality education and investing in the early development of children’s minds, we believe in partnering with organisations, like the Lewis Group who are equally passionate about education, to foster meaningful change in society. Our various Programmes aim to promote the holistic development and well-being of each child we care for, with the hope of seeing them live-out their innate potential. Our vision, which is ‘Growing Hearts and Minds’, has been something that Sharon Röhm and her team have supported since the start of our partnership in 2013. Their faithfulness in contributing annually towards the tuition costs of children of our former iThemba Academy brought hope to their hearts and futures, as they benefited from receiving a sound early learning foundation. Later, when the Academy was incorporated into the formation of our iThemba Scholars Programme, we were grateful to see our partnership with the Lewis Group continue with the support of an iThemba Scholar at an ISASA registered school called Waterfall Schools which is based on our Campus. We extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to the Lewis Group for their partnership! Together, we are creating hope and opportunity for this child to become a future leader or captain of industry.

TSiBA

The unique partnership to provide access to tertiary education, employment, and economic citizenship to talented young South Africans between Lewis Group and TSIBA business school has thrived for fifteen years. Every year since 1010, Lewis Group has funded ten annual tuition scholarships for talented young people who otherwise would not have been able to study post-school, and every year since then has offered these students the opportunity to intern or become employed with the company. The partnership is unique for its longevity and its objective to address generational poverty in a sustainable manner. Through the full duration, Lewis has invested over R 14 million into the education of 66 students, all of whom have graduated with a TSIBA Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree and all of whom entered the world of work as qualified business and experienced professionals having also spent time working at and for Lewis. As a unique, ongoing, and sustained initiative to build South Africa and the future business leaders of South Africa, this decade and half partnership is an inspirational model for impact and is greatly valued by TSIBA.

CAREL DU TOIT

The Carel du Toit Centre and Trust where profoundly deaf children learn to listen and speak celebrates 16 wonderful years of friendship and donorship with the Lewis Group, starting in 2008!

This relationship echoes the cornerstone of the Lewis Group's strategy 'to identify opportunities that align with our goals and objectives to provide the greatest social impact and value for the society we work and live in'.

In 2024 the Carel du Toit Centre celebrate 51 years of service to deaf children who learn to listen and speak and to their families.

Parents who wish their deaf children to follow an auditory-verbal path to learn to listen and speak, seek the professional support of the Carel du Toit Centre which is situated in Tygerberg in Cape Town in the Western Cape. Beneficiaries come from around the country, and even beyond the borders of South Africa.

The Centre is the only centre in Africa that journeys with the family and the child from birth through the foundation phase and beyond. Annually the Carel du Toit Screening Unit screens 3400 high-risk newborns for hearing impairments and 200 children and their families annually engage with the Carel du Toit School, Therapies and Early Intervention programmes.

Over 60 per cent of the beneficiaries come from low- or no-income comes and donor support pays for their tuition, speech- and occupational therapies, audiological support, social services, transport, meals and aftercare.

Over the years, the Lewis Group has made regular operational donations via the CDT Trust and in 2011 made a major bricks-and-mortar donation of a classroom wing. This year (2024) the Lewis Group has pledged funding towards the extension of the existing early intervention CHAT Centre.

PATCH

The Lewis group has been backing PATCH's services for more than ten years. PATCH offers prevention, medical assistance, and professional care to child sexual abuse victims in the Helderberg area of Cape Town. The monthly support from The Lewis group goes towards renting the PATCH satellite office in Macassar, enabling our team to serve the Macassar community where child sexual abuse is prominent. We are deeply grateful for The Lewis group's ongoing belief in our cause, which has enabled us to assist numerous children through their recovery journey over the years. Operating in the Macassar community would not be possible without The Lewis group's support, for which we are immensely thankful. Child sexual abuse is a growing concern, and we urge everyone to acknowledge and address it to prevent further occurrences. We applaud The Lewis Group for supporting a cause that is often overlooked or not adequately supported by corporations. Not only does The Lewis Group deserve recognition for aiding local NGOs, but also for championing the fight against child sexual abuse in South Africa.

9 MLIES PROJECT

Lewis Stores has been such an incredible partner to us over the past 8 years...from a sewing machine and kitchen equipment when we were just starting out and needed to kit out our Youth Centre in Strandfontein which is a safe space for at-risk children; to being one of the donors who helped us purchase our first minibus in 2023, Lewis has shown unwavering commitment in our mission to uplift and empower vulnerable youth and communities. We are extremely thankful for their enduring support and the compassion they demonstrate towards their community.

LESEDI LA BATHO

Lesedi la Batho is a Christian faith-based NGO operating a multi-faceted community centre in Mabopane since March 2011. Our mission is to uplift, equip and empower vulnerable women, youth and the community at large to improve their lives and become independent of hand-outs. Our services include free skills training, job placement assistance, small business development and preventative education programs in 10 local primary and high schools in Mabopane. We would like to Thank Lewis Sores (PTY) LTD for a long-standing partnership. Thank you for continued trust in us.

AUTISM BOTSWANA

We, at Autism Botswana would like to thank Lewis Group for sponsoring Autism Botswana with monetary donation. Your commitment for sponsoring the Autism Awareness Month events has given us a powerful voice in the community and allowed us to make a contribution to those affected by Autism. Your donation was able to show your commitment and support for the families and people who took part in the commemoration of the annual Autism Awareness Month events in Botswana. Our organization will continue to help change the lives of those affected by autism. With your support, you haven't just helped us increased awareness about autism spectrum disorders, but to also advocate on behalf of people with autism and their families. You've also assisted us in the ability to offer invaluable help and hope to thousands of people whose lives are touched by autism every day. We thank you again for your generous support of our efforts and hope to work with you on our future endeavours.

THE KAY MASON ASSOCIATION

The Kay Mason Association expresses our deepest appreciation for your unwavering support towards our scholars, Inam and Zoë, over the past two years. Your generosity and dedication have made a profound impact on their lives and educational journey.

Your commitment to providing opportunities for quality education to those who may not have access otherwise is truly commendable. Inam and Zoë, have benefited immensely from your support, enabling them to pursue their dreams and reach their full potential.

On behalf of our entire organization and the scholars whose lives you have touched, I want to express our deepest gratitude for your ongoing support and belief in the power of education to transform lives. Your generosity has paved the way for a brighter future for Inam, Zoë, and many others, and we are profoundly grateful for your kindness.

SOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGES

Francistown Botswana

We appreciate the support you have been granting us over the years, cumulatively amounting to hundreds of pula’s worth of furniture. Our staff and children are elated and always looking forward to the support from Lewis Stores. Your coming on board has been very instrumental in ensuring our children’s homes are livable and homely in nature, and no words can ever be enough to describe how fortunate we are to have you as a partner for so many years.

As we conclude we pray that you grow in wisdom and that your businesses grow through leaps and bounds so that you may continue to support the underprivileged.

ST JOSEPHS HOME FOR CHRONICALLY ILL CHILDREN

Our sincerest thanks and appreciation to Lewis Stores (Pty)Ltd for donating to St Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric Care. We greatly appreciate your continued support in helping us to care for the children entrusted to us and for being part of our dreams and vision to impact the lives of sick and vulnerable children positively.

SOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGES

SOS Children's Villages Association of Lesotho

SOS Children’s Villages is a global non-governmental and non-political organization providing care, development and protection to orphaned and vulnerable children. In Lesotho, the first Children’s Village was established at Lithabaneng in 1994 and later in Quthing district in 2010. We are currently serving 190 children under our family-like care programme.

On behalf of SOS Children’s Villages Lesotho, we would like to express our gratitude for the generous gifts we have been receiving from LEWIS STORE IN CAPETOWN since 2016 to date. We are pleased to inform you that children need someone who truly sees them, who stands by them no matter what. Someone who holds them close when they are small and believes in them when they are ready to grow into their own and step into the world. It takes a village to raise a child.

We are thankful for your commitment to our cause. Your support makes a huge impact to the children under our care and development.

Once again we THANK YOU for your continued support.

ESWATINI EPILEPSY ORGANIZATION

The Eswatini Epilepsy Organization has had the privilege of having a wonderful donor-beneficiary relationship with the Lewis Group Stores for some years now. The support the Lewis Group Stores has lent the organization has seen the implementation of projects that improve the socio-economic and policy environment of Persons with Epilepsy, tackled the stigma and discrimination faced by Persons with Epilepsy, and facilitated impact mitigation initiatives benefiting Persons with Epilepsy in the Kingdom of Eswatini. As of late, the most prominent outcomes of this partnership have been the first phase of the 'Epilepsy Centre' construction at Mpaka/Sikhuphe in the Lubombo region of the country. In 2021, the organization purchased building materials, mainly building blocks using donations from the Lewis Group Stores.

RED CROSS WAR MEMORIAL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

The success of the Children's Hospital Trust as fundraiser for the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and Paediatric Healthcare in the Western Cape rests entirely on the generosity of our donors, all of whom are the lifeblood of the Trust. The Trust values donors like Lewis Group who have shown their ongoing generosity and commitment to helping sick children. Not only did Lewis Group help fund a new Surgical Skills Training Centre at the Hospital but has also generously donated towards building a Paediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic.

The remarkable dedication of those who work at the Hospital together with the ongoing generosity of donors such as Lewis Group ensures that the Hospital is equipped to deliver the best possible service to the children it treats. Lewis Group is not only benevolent but showed great humility when they declined naming rights to the Reception area in the Surgical Skills Training Centre and of their own accord asked for the area to be named after an individual at the Hospital who has made a huge impact in surgery for children. The Trust elected to name the area after Emeritus Professor Sid Cywes together with Lewis Group. As a non-profit organisation, the Children's Hospital Trust enjoys a long record of outstanding administration, project management and donor stewardship. 100% of the funds donated to the Trust go directly to the Hospital and priority paediatric projects in the Western Cape.

CAPE MENTAL HEALTH

Cape Mental Health Society is a non-profit organisation that works in the greater Cape Town area providing free mental health services in poor communities. These services include counselling, support, training and rehabilitation for people experiencing emotional adjustment problems and those with mental disabilities (both intellectual and psychiatric). The goal of our work is to help people adjust to living in the community and maximise their independent functioning and quality of life.

Lewis Stores has been a loyal supporter of Cape Mental Health Society for many years. Several Cape Mental Health Society programmes have received much needed gifts in kind ranging from furniture through to office and kitchen equipment from Lewis. Lewis Stores has also supported Cape Mental Health by annually purchasing Casual Day stickers. Recently, one Cape Mental Health Society programme received a first-time cash donation from Lewis. Lewis further extended their support beyond the call of duty to Cape Mental Health Society during the 2011 African Footprint in Global Mental Health Congress when they assisted with transportation for a donation of Lewis couches used to create a resting area for consumers of mental health services.

AFRIKA TIKKUN

The contribution from the Lewis Group is more substantial than just financial. The Afrika Tikkun model is built around effective partnerships for we realise that despite over 90 000 registered NGOs we cannot turn the tide on raging poverty and the associated ills that arise. Our model builds children within their communities by bringing the best possible resources into the townships and by ensuring the finest services are provided routinely and measurably over time. Each stage of a child's development is necessary if the end "product" is to be young men and women who are well rounded and knowledgeable, capable of employment and indeed engaged in productive contribution to their societies.

Early childhood development has been globally proved to be a critical prerequisite to comprehensive adult development. In an environment where family life cannot provide so many of these positive influences. The Lewis Early Childhood Centre will provide a physically and emotionally safe haven. At the same time, for over 250 children attending the Centre each year, the environment of edutainment from accredited teachers will ensure that these children are well prepared to enter the school environment 6 years after their first enrolment. Literacy and numeracy are the basics taught, but importantly, life skills (hygiene, honesty, trust and mutual respect) are core to the programmes as well.

The parents of these children benefit through participating in parenting workshops adding social and academic support to the community. Associated pre-schools from within the community will participate as they share resources and join in training and skills development offered by the Lewis Centre as part of a wider community engagement.

Finally the Lewis Centre offers the stakeholders of the Lewis Group the very tangible opportunity to engage in making a very real change towards a positive outcome for this community. The vital link the Lewis Early Childhood Development Centre will provide in the holistic development framework undertaken by Afrika Tikkun, will benefit thousands of the Mufuleni's community for years to come.

We thank you for sharing this journey together and for putting your trust and faith into our efforts. Let's make this a really memorable lifetime engagement. God bless you all for what you have made possible.

ST LUKES HOSPICE

In 2011/2012 the support given by Lewis Group to St Luke's Hospice has meant that we are able to upgrade the inpatient unit of our Lentegeur Ward, in Mitchells Plain. Approximately 30-40 mainly HIV-positive patients pass through these doors on a monthly basis, and are given treatment and support with the aim they are able to leave the hospice and go on to live healthy lives. The care and support these patients and their families receive are given regardless of their ability to pay for their care. Without the support of the public and generous donors such as Lewis, we would not be able to continue caring for the over 860 patients we care for in any given day, around Cape Town.

PROJECT BUILD

Project Build Trust has been associated with the LEWIS GROUP for a number of years, implementing their generous SED school building programme at under-resourced schools in KZN and Transkei. To date Lewis Group has invested considerable funds at 12 schools in this programme.

In my capacity as CEO, I would like to say what a pleasure it has been on every level working with the Lewis Group. Ms Röhm and her directors have a serious intent to improve the education and thus the future of the young learners of our country. We estimate that many thousands of young people have benefited to date and many thousands more will in the future. We at Project Build are honoured at the association.

COMMUNITY CHEST

The Community Chest of the Western Cape is an 83 year old philanthropic organisation investing in 8 sectors across the Human Care spectrum.

The Lewis Group has been a loyal supporter of the Community Chest for the past 25 years. This partnership started with our Give-As-You-Earn-Programme and has progressed to include other programmes such as sponsorship in the Twilight Team Run, generous donations of goods towards the Donations-In-Kind, and substantial investment in the Enhancement of Capacity and Corporate programmes.

With the assistance from the Lewis Group, together we RESTORE HOPE to vulnerable communities in the Province.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTH AFRICA

Special Olympics South Africa were extremely grateful that The Lewis Group came on board as a sponsor and fan of two exceptional Special Olympics athletes this year – Lebohang Molefe and Denver John. The sponsorship allowed these two individuals, lives to be changed dramatically with Denver winning his first international gold medal and Lebohang being given an opportunity to travel abroad for the first time ever and collect two gold medals at his first international competition.

Aside from the generous financial contribution, the aspect that has made the greatest impression on Special Olympics South Africa is how much The Lewis Group really cares for their beneficiaries. No other company has ever taken such a sincere interest in our organisation or our athletes and I believe that it is because The Lewis Group genuinely puts people first. The depth of their commitment was even more apparent when The Lewis Group went beyond all expectations and rewarded the two athletes that they had sponsored for their success on their return from competing in the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

And although one may underestimate the importance of contributions such as these, we never do because we know that we live in a world where individuals with intellectual disabilities are marginalised, ridiculed and labelled as "retarded", however The Lewis Group has counteracted these stereotypes with action that clearly speaks of inclusion, respect and admiration.

RED CROSS WAR MEMORIAL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

The success of the Children's Hospital Trust as fundraiser for the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and Paediatric Healthcare in the Western Cape rests entirely on the generosity of our donors, all of whom are the lifeblood of the Trust. The Trust values donors like Lewis Group who have shown their ongoing generosity and commitment to helping sick children. Not only did Lewis Group help fund a new Surgical Skills Training Centre at the Hospital but has also generously donated towards building a Paediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic.

The remarkable dedication of those who work at the Hospital together with the ongoing generosity of donors such as Lewis Group ensures that the Hospital is equipped to deliver the best possible service to the children it treats. Lewis Group is not only benevolent but showed great humility when they declined naming rights to the Reception area in the Surgical Skills Training Centre and of their own accord asked for the area to be named after an individual at the Hospital who has made a huge impact in surgery for children. The Trust elected to name the area after Emeritus Professor Sid Cywes together with Lewis Group. As a non-profit organisation, the Children's Hospital Trust enjoys a long record of outstanding administration, project management and donor stewardship. 100% of the funds donated to the Trust go directly to the Hospital and priority paediatric projects in the Western Cape.