We're back with an update! As you know, no LottoStar competition is complete without a meaningful cause.

In last year's Summer of Millions competition with Jacaranda FM, our generous players raised an impressive R891,000 towards Good Morning Angels (GMA).

A portion of these proceeds supported incredible causes such as Hercules Community Policing Forum, Nokuphila, Bela Bela Protection Association and Ché – a total amount of R300,000 was split among them.

Now, the remaining R561,000 will go towards:

Prudence & Lesedi Self Help Centre
Prudence Mahlangu, a single mother of 2, faces immense financial and emotional strain as she’s the breadwinner for her distant family. Prudence is a foster parent to Marcia, her niece (her cousin’s daughter). Marcia’s mother had pregnancy complications. As a result, her mother died 9 days after she was born. Years later, it was discovered that Marcia had cerebral palsy, requiring constant care and attention.
 

In addition to caring for Marcia and her daughter, she also takes care of her extended family including her retired father, cousins and an aunt who has mental health challenges.

Prudence found Lesedi Self Help Centre to assist with caring for Marcia, as she is fully dependent and non-verbal. However, the center is not funded by the government and depends on the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants received by the children.

GMA and LottoStar have granted Prudence and Lesedi Self Help Centre R100,000 each. The funds will go towards alleviating Prudence’s financial stress such as paying for her eldest daughter’s school fees and helping Prudence complete her studies. It will also assist in the running of the Lesedi Self Help Centre.

Siyabonga’s Children’s Home in Germiston
In November 2023, a registered non-profit organization had to submit a comprehensive business plan to the Department of Social Services and Development to qualify for funding to sustain itself in the year 2024. However, the organization has not received any funding and communication from the government despite their submission.

Siyabonga Children’s Home looks after 41 children, ranging from 1 to 18 years old, who come from destitute and abusive backgrounds. They have witnessed a neighbouring children’s home shut down and they would hate to suffer the same fate.

In a gesture of kindness, GMA and LottoStar have donated R148,000 to the children’s home. This will go towards re-hiring retrenched social workers and cleaners, also other running costs.

To pledge a monthly donation to the organization, click here.

Maryna
Maryna van Deventer, a Pharmacist Assistant from Rustenburg, is the only breadwinner in her household which consists of her daughter and husband. She needs cataract surgery on both her eyes. Unfortunately, both the lenses of her eyes are cloudy, resulting in blurry vision.

The quote she received from a private hospital was quite steep considering she could not afford medical aid to cover the costs. To her demise, public hospitals do not have the equipment to do the surgery.

Maryna's vision problems not only affect her job but also make it difficult for her to pursue further education or training opportunities that could potentially improve her circumstances.

In a much-needed ray of hope, GMA and LottoStar donated R63,000 to Maryna.

Ruan
Ruan from Tzaneen has Odontogenic Myxoma, a rare tumour of the jaw. He needs urgent surgery in order to stop the spread of the tumour into the skull and potentially affecting the brain.

Ruan’s family has endured hardship. Having lost his father a few years ago and his mother, he cannot afford medical aid nor the cost to cover surgery. They had consulted at Medunsa Hospital, however, they did not have the equipment to carry out the surgery.

With a stroke of kindness, GMA and LottoStar contributed R150,000 towards his surgery, easing the financial strain on his family.

LottoStar's commitment to giving back lies at the core of its values. Teaming up with Good Morning Angels is just one of the many avenues through which we strive to create positive change in the world.

Tune into Good Morning Angels every Wednesday, from 6 to 9 am.