The Joy of Giving Trust has elected Deidré Vrede and Samenthea Arendse to its board of trustees.

The JOG Trust says that Vrede currently serves as senior manager of corporate social investment and wellness at the V&A Waterfront and is a registered counsellor with experience in working with at-risk youth in the education sector. 

This, coupled with a history of supporting non-governmental organisations (NGOs), has given her a unique understanding of the challenges faced at grassroots level, which, when applied to corporate strategy, produces positive results for all involved, says the Trust. 

According to JOG, Vrede believes that it is her mandate to foster and bring meaningful, lasting change to individuals and the communities in which they live.

Regarding her appointment, Vrede shares, "This is a huge honour for me. I am excited to contribute to the growth of what is already an amazing organisation that is changing lives."

Arendse, the head of finance at Business Partners Limited, brings with her 18 years of experience as a finance professional along with her expertise in governance as a certified director, says JOG. 

According to Arendse, fuelled by a deep desire to give back, her decision to join the Trust aligns with a personal commitment she made: to make her 40s a decade of purpose.

Arendse says, "Having received a bursary from an NGO that enabled me to complete my bachelor of commerce degree, I wanted to pay it forward. In doing so, I hope to touch someone’s life who will one day be in a position to give back too. I am so grateful for the opportunity and the confidence that such a well-loved initiative has now put in me."

She hopes to leverage her skills to improve the Trust’s operations while also attracting new funders to grow its support base. "This will allow it to continue and expand the work that it does," adds Arendse. 

Executive trustee and CEO of the Santa Shoebox Project Deb Zelezniak says, "Deidré and Samenthea's passion for making a difference aligns perfectly with our vision of giving, which goes beyond material or financial resources to include time, skills, knowledge, kindness and love."

Zelezniak concludes, "Their dedication and experience will be instrumental in helping us bring joy to even more children and to continue to uplift under-resourced communities countrywide. We are super excited to have these capable and compassionate women join our team!"

For more information, visit www.santashoebox.org.za. You can also follow the Santa Shoebox Project on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram or on TikTok. 

*Image courtesy of contributor