Celebrity Drive SA brings festive relief to vulnerable communities at Sun City

As Sun City marked the start of the festive season with its annual Christmas Lighting ceremony, the spotlight this year extended beyond fireworks and carols to families, children and elderly residents in surrounding communities who often face the season with little support.

Behind the celebrations was a coordinated community outreach led by Celebrity Drive South Africa, Sun City and a network of partner brands, which delivered food parcels, festive activities and personal interaction to four care centres in the North West.

The beneficiaries included Dimakatso Safehouse in Moruleng, the HIV and AIDS Traditional Home Based Care Centre in Chaneng, Otshepeng Old Age Home in Tlhatlhaganyane, and Bateng Elderly Care Centre in Monakato - all of which form part of Sun City’s socio-economic development (SED) network.

The initiative grew out of an earlier Celebrity Drive outreach visit to a local orphanage in Moses Kotane, where time spent with children highlighted the need for continued, hands-on support.

“That moment highlighted how much a return visit would mean, and the festive season felt like the perfect time to offer not just goodwill, but real support for homes caring for vulnerable groups,” said Brett Hoppé, general manager of Sun City Resort.

During the visits, residents received food parcels and took part in festive activities, while volunteers spent time engaging directly with children, caregivers and elderly residents - an element organisers say is as important as material support.

Herbelin led the initiative as the main sponsor, offering watches at a discounted rate, with Celebrity Drive receiving 25% of the net price from each sale. Funds raised will continue to be collected throughout the festive season and will be used in January to provide school shoes, stationery and back-to-school items for children.

Additional contributions came from a wide range of partners. International Junior Miss South Africa donated 700 sanitary towels, while Versus Paints, Uniq Brows, McDonald’s, Gert Johan Coetzee, Bathu and several others provided food, gifts and services.

McDonald’s and the Mmakola Foundation catered Happy Meals for children at Dimakatso Safehouse, while fashion designer Gert Johan Coetzee donated toys. Footwear brand Bathu contributed 50 pairs of its Mersh Kiddies Edition shoes.

Further support included 150 loaves of bread from M Sport Marketing, snacks from NikNaks, face painting by Versus Paints, and stationery packs for the new school year.

The combined value of the donations exceeded R110 000.

Hoppé said the collaboration allowed Sun City to expand the reach of its festive season giving.

“Sun City has always been proud to kick off the festive season for the North West province, and each year we look for ways to give back to the communities around us. This year’s initiative is even bigger, thanks to the incredible support of Celebrity Drive and our partner brands. Together, we brought food, gifts, and festive cheer to children, the elderly, and vulnerable groups in our SED network. Moments like these, highlighted by the turning on of the symbolic light of kindness, remind us of the joy the season can bring and the difference we can make when we come together,” he said.

The Christmas Lighting event symbolically marked what organisers described as a “light of kindness”, reinforcing the message that festive celebrations can extend beyond entertainment to tangible acts of care.

Celebrity Drive South Africa said the initiative reflects its broader mission of blending culture, fashion and philanthropy to support orphanages, HIV and AIDS centres, old age homes and safe houses through ongoing outreach programmes.