Previous awardees include the founding directors of the Adonis Musati Project for refugees, Gayle McWalter and Gahlia Brogneri; 10-year-old rhino campaigner Afeefah Patel; Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu; co-ounder of the ‘Spread Luv Movement’, Kgomotso Mokoena; the Ackerman family; director of Hlumelelisa for convicted offenders, Paul Bruns; champion of orphans and vulnerable children in Durban, Mohamed Fayaz Khan; and founding chairman of The Atlantic Philanthropies Charles Feeney for his multi-million rand contribution to promoting social justice, better healthcare and human rights in South Africa.
Inyathelo executive director Shelagh Gastrow says an independent Awards Review Panel is currently looking for extraordinary people who are actively investing their own financial resources in small or big ways to improve their communities and South Africa - be it through the arts, education, health, environment, human rights, research or other causes.
"Philanthropy is dependent on the interest, passion, commitment, generosity and foresight of individuals wanting to make a difference, and our Awards seek to inspire others by recognising the incredible role models amongst us. Individual giving can be the largest source of donor money in South Africa and philanthropists play a critical role in effecting real systemic change through supporting innovative solutions to our many social, environmental and economic problems," explains Gastrow.
Nominations close on Wednesday, 1 July and the awardees will be announced at a gala event in Cape Town in early November.
For more information and to nominate a philanthropy hero, visit the Philanthropy South Africa website or email [email protected].
Alternatively, visit the Inyathelo websitenyathelo website or connect with them on Facebook and on Twitter.