In partnership with IFA, a division of Clientele Life, the Foundation’s first initiative aims to donate 70 000 pairs of school shoes to children from communities in all 9 provinces.

On Thursday, 22 October, the much-loved actress, celebrity and IFA ambassador and supporter of many good causes, Dube celebrates her milestone birthday at Gold Reef City. Opening the evening with a VIP dinner, invited guests and friends will each donate an equivalent of four pairs of school shoes as an ‘entrance fee’ to the celebrations, and be treated to performances by Marah Louw and Abigail Kubeka.

Following the VIP function, a star-studded public event will be held from 20:00 at The Lyric at Gold Reef City. At an admission cost of R250 per person, the event line-up showcases headline act by MiCasa, Mafikizolo and supporting acts Brian Temba, Ndumiso Nyovane, Tats Nkonzo, Imilonji Kantu Choir and other leading local artists.

Dube explains, “The 70 000 National School Shoes project is just the beginning of what we intend to become an annual initiative under the Celebrities for Good Causes Foundation. The basis of the organisation is to encourage South African celebrities to utilise their positive influences and networks under one banner to better the lives of those in need. To date we have already secured 25 000 pairs of school shoes.”

“There are so many people in desperate need for help in our country and yet their cries for assistance often go unheard. I am also aware that there are a number of high profile individuals and celebrities who would love to lend a hand and make a difference in the lives of these individuals, but do not have the time or resources to make a meaningful contribution. It is for these reasons that I have taken the initiative to establish the Celebrities for Good Causes Foundation, in which all celebrities from the arts, sports and related fields come together in an effort to make a difference and fulfil their philanthropic aspirations.”

According to Dube, the decision to donate school shoes as the inaugural project was an obvious choice when considering that many of our children living in rural communities often walk to school barefoot on dangerous terrain for kilometres, to fetch clean water or when seeking medical help.

Dube, her celebrity friends and event organisers have established strategic partnerships with local school shoes manufacturers, the SABC Foundation, and Departments of Education and Social Development including NPO’s across the country to ensure sustainability of the National School Shoes Project.

The 70 000 pairs of school shoes will be handed to registered NGO’s for distribution to needy communities in all nine provinces. The Celebrities for Good Causes Foundation aims to raise the annual target of total pairs of shoes donated by 1000 pairs each year to mirror Dube’s birthday year. In addition the Foundation intends to support issues including Women Abuse, Substance Abuse, Suicide & Depression, Gender Equality, Cancer and HIV/AIDS in future initiatives.

Joining forces with the Celebrities for Good Foundation are the Soul City Institute, POWA, SADAG, Sesego, TOMS and CancerVive as well as partners The Department of Arts & Culture, Soul Buddyz, The Department of Social Development, The Department of Education and trustees celebrity partners Kenny Nkosi, Rapulana Seiphemo, Toby Cronje, Connie Ferguson and Shoki Mokgapa and Motshabi Tyelele.

Dube adds, “Our wish is for many of our country’s great celebrities to get involved in the cause and leverage their celebrity power to drive charity while making a sustainable difference in our communities. We’re looking to raise awareness of the great challenges facing many communities, particularly young South Africans who wish to fulfil their dreams of completing their education, but are not be able to do so because of a lack of school uniform or school shoes.” We are so grateful to Clientele, our shoe sponsor and the support we are receiving from various sponsors. Together they are making it possible for us to donate school shoes and commit the Foundation’s support to these communities and NGO’s in future.”

Dr Peter Hotez, MD, PhD and distinguished Professor at George Washington University is quoted as saying: “In Africa, there is a desperate need for footwear that will protect children from highly prevalent neglected tropical diseases transmitted through the soil.” He cites Hookworm, Podoconiosis, Jiggers and Tetanus as the most common foot diseases contracted through bare feet on soil.

For more information on the Celebrities for Good Causes Foundation visit www.celebsforgoodcauses.org or for updates on the initiatives follow Facebook pages here and here or Twitter here or here.

To assist in raising funds for the National School Shoes Project, SMS “School Shoes” to 38321 to donate R10 towards a pair of school shoes.

Tickets for Lillian Dube’s public birthday event are on sale now from Computicket.