The Carte Blanche Making a Difference campaign was a huge success story and evidence of the kindness that exists when people are in need. All over the country large corporates donated money toward this worthy cause.
The decision by Ince to contribute a R500 000 donation to this fundraiser was just a small contribution to a very big need.
Devi Sankaree Govender (Carte Blanche presenter) said “It started as a dream to raise R20million for desperately needy paediatric surgical units and child welfare organisations. Within six weeks that dream was fulfilled – major corporations and our viewers dug into their pockets to give these miracle workers a helping hand.” [Carte Blanche 7 September 2008] The desperate need of these hospitals was fatal in some cases. Dr David Griessel (Neonatalogist) said: “We’ve got numbers of the babies that we turn away… 80 to 100 babies a year.”
On Wednesday, 6 May 2009, a multi-filtrate haemodialysis machine was handed over to the Steve Biko Pretoria Academic Hospital. A portion of the R500 000 donation from Ince was used to purchase the machine. It will assist the hospital to treat premature babies who previously would have died as this essential equipment was not available.
Roelf du Plooy, Ince’s Chief Financial Officer, was present at the handover and was interviewed by Carte Blanche. The actual handover was aired by Carte Blanche on Sunday, 17 May 2009.