They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Who knew it could be life-changing? 

’ In-School breakfast program, we’re doing just that across eight schools in Mpumalanga. This initiative is not only nourishing young learners but also changing lives.

In January 2025, both Makhosazane Primar and Wandile Mathebula two dedicated food monitors from Mpunzana and Mtimba Primary Schools secured permanent employment thanks to the skills gained through this programme. One has joined the team at Kruger National Park, while the other balances a new job with part-time higher education.

By equipping young individuals with practical skills, hands-on experience and accredited food handler training, we are giving them the tools to build a better future. Their training certificates have strengthened their CVs and boosted their employability.

We couldn’t be prouder of their success, and we remain committed to empowering more young people through our initiatives.

Help us create more opportunities. Join us in making a lasting impact – one meal, one opportunity at a time!

Impact Beyond a Meal - Creating Career Opportunities

When a child learns to read, they unlock a world of possibilities, both in school and beyond.

That’s why The Star Foundation is proud to partner with 

 for a year-long campaign dedicated to transforming young lives through literacy. Since 2006, this amazing non-profit organization has worked with over 400 schools, helping more than 23,000 children develop the ability to read confidently and effectively.

The heart of this program? Our incredible literacy tutors. These young women do so much more than teaching kids to read - they’re sparking curiosity, building confidence and make reading downright fun! Whether one-on-one sessions to lively Reading Clubs, they create safe spaces where kids feel excited to learn. It’s the little moments that really show the impact, like when Karabo watched one of her learners read a book out loud to her family, something they’d never done before. The pride on the child’s face was unforgettable and seeing the joy on their faces when they achieve something new.

Every day, these tutors bring patience, creativity and heart to their work. Whether sharing silly stories, helping kids tackle tricky words or celebrating small victories, they’re making a difference — one book at a time!

But the magic does not stop there. Help2Read’s mission is their Literacy Tutor Programme, which not only empowers children but also uplifts communities. Unemployed, literate individuals from surrounding township areas are recruited and trained to be Literacy Tutors. They receive a stipend while participating in personal development and work-readiness programs. This initiative provides them with valuable experience and opens doors to future employment and brighter prospects.

We couldn’t be prouder to support this incredible journey. Stay tuned as we share more stories from our literacy champions and the young readers they inspire!

Bringing the Magic of Reading to Life


Every year on World Cancer Day, we are reminded of the importance of early detection, support and access to life-saving treatment. Cancer affects millions of lives, but together, we can make a difference with early detection.

At The Star Foundation, we believe in the power of collective action. Through 

’s Summer of Millions competition on 947, we raised funds to support 

CANSA (The Cancer Associations of South Africa).

 Thanks to your participation, we were able to contribute significantly by providing screenings and resources to those who need them most.

A key beneficiary of these funds is CANSA, a leading organization dedicated to cancer research, education and patient support. With these funds, CANSA will provide free cancer screenings to underserved communities, held at 26 pop-up clinics across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and the Free State in the month of February/March. Ensuring early detection and access to treatment before it’s too late.


Early detection saves lives. Routine cancer screenings can identify potential health risks early, increasing the chances of successful treatment and recovery. Unfortunately, many South Africans lack access to these essential screenings, making initiatives like this even more crucial.

This World Cancer Day let’s take action. Whether it’s scheduling your own screening, spreading awareness or supporting organizations like CANSA, every effort counts.

Standing Together Against Cancer

The start of a new year brings fresh opportunities to rebuild and renew hope.
The Star Foundation embraced this spirit by offering a life-changing gift to a family living with disability. Through an act of kindness, we were privileged to assist a couple who endured hardship due to their disability, providing them with a R20,000 donation to help restore their financial stability.

On 11 December 2024, Lester Kiewit, host of 

, received an emotional call from Mpho from Mthatha, Eastern Cape. The radio show’s topic was safety in South Africa’s public transport system and Mpho’s story resonated with listeners. His experience highlighted the vulnerability of people with disabilities and the barriers they face daily.


Mpho and his wife, Dibate, are both visually impaired and rely on e-hailing services for transportation. As recipients of SASSA grants, they have no choice but to go collect their grant physically. On the day they collected their grants in December, access control restrictions at the collection site prevented them from using any e-hailing service. They were directed to the local taxi rank, where they encountered an unimaginable ordeal.

At the taxi rank, their visual impairments left them vulnerable. Under the guise of assistance, they were misled to their taxi and robbed at gunpoint of their entire grant money, which is their only source of income. Shaken and destitute, they sought help from local authorities. However, they received limited support due to their inability to identify the assailants. This injustice left them with uncertainty about how they would make ends meet.


Moved by Mpho’s story, The Star Foundation recognized an opportunity to make a difference. Giving is not just an obligation for us but a privilege. On 18 December2024, Timothy Blatch, Project Manager at The Star Foundation, joined Lester Kiewit on 

 to surprise Mpho live on air with incredible news.

The Foundation donated R20,000 to Mpho and Dibate, ensuring they could recover from the robbery and celebrate a special Christmas with their family. The emotional moment left listeners inspired, as Mpho expressed his gratitude during the segment. 


The donation provided much-need relief for the couple. They used the funds to cover groceries, back-to-school supplies for their children, and other essentials. More importantly, they invested in their future by purchasing a stand where they plan to build a home for their family.

As we step into 2025, Mpho and Khanyisile’s story stands as a reminder of resilience and the impact of compassion. The Star Foundation is honoured to have played a part in helping this deserving family rebuild their lives and look forward to a brighter future.

 team, The Star Foundation remains committed to uplifting individuals and families in need. Stories like Mpho’s fuel our mission to extend a helping hand to vulnerable communities, especially those living with disabilities.

As we move into 2025 and beyond, we are inspired to continue making a meaningful impact, one act of kindness at a time.

A New Year's Gift of Hope

, in partnership with Carte Blanche's Making a Difference Trust, is proud to have built a new paediatric emergency unit at Sebokeng Hospital. Previously, the hospital had no dedicated facilities for children, meaning young patients had to be treated in general wards with medical equipment—such as tubes and masks—designed for adults. As a result, 2500 to 3000 children in Sebokeng and the surrounding areas will have access to age-appropriate care and treatment in a state-of-the-art facility, per year.

Most public hospitals are overcrowded, understaffed, have limited resources and outdated infrastructure. Children are often the most affected as they require specialised care and equipment tailored to their unique medical needs.

The new paediatric emergency unit is a prime example of how these challenges can be overcome. Its designed to be child-friendly and comforting for young patients, fostering an environment for healing and recovery.

As a first of its kind in paediatric healthcare, this specialised facility improves health outcomes for young patients and provides parents with the assurance that their children’s medical needs will be met locally.

This project, three years in the making, marks a significant step forward in local healthcare. LottoStar is honoured to have contributed to this life-saving initiative, in support of Sebokeng Hospital’s commitment to providing compassionate and comprehensive care to every child in need.

Paediatric Emergency Unit at Sebokeng Hospital.

On 23 October 2007, Darren Thomas was attacked at his Johannesburg home during a house robbery that almost left him for dead. A bullet narrowly missed his heart by just 1mm passing through to his spine leaving him paralyzed and fighting for his life in ICU.

He had to rely on medical experts, his faith, resilience and family for support during that difficult period. Had he lost hope like many who do, we would not be celebrating him being the world’s 9th Fittest Adaptive Seated Without Hip Athlete.

He turned his painful experience into a triumphant story giving inspiration to the young and old to never give up, regardless of the challenges they face.

His story not only inspired hope but also deeply touched us. In support of his journey, we contributed R90,000 as a sponsorship for Darren’s participation in the CrossFit Games in San Antonio, Texas this September.

Darren Thomas – An Inspiration to Many

We celebrated the arrival of Spring with a lively market day at The Conservatory building in Rosebank, supporting the San Salvador Home for Intellectually Impaired Adults and Sally’s Protective Workshop.

San Salvador and Sally’s Workshop, based in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, is a non-profit organization that provides residential facilities for women with intellectual disabilities and a protective workshop for the intellectually disabled community in Alexandra Township.
For this special Spring Day event, the talented individuals from San Salvador and Sally’s Workshop displayed their beautifully handmade items. The market featured a range of crafts, including woven bags, table runners, knitted toys, baby blankets, purses, earrings, beaded necklaces, and handmade cards. The event aimed to raise funds for their workshop and was a great success, with R7,400 raised from sales.
Alongside the market, each Conservatory employee received a decorated cup with a succulent, adding R10,000 to the total. This event highlighted the power of community collaboration, showing how we can come together to support and uplift those in need.

Spring Day Market

On July 18th the world celebrates Mandela Day, a day dedicated to honouring the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s revered leader and champion of social justice. The significance of “67 minutes” on this day, carries deep meaning as it represents the 67 years Nelson Mandela dedicated to serving humanity and advocating for equality and human rights.

At the Star Foundation we have embraced the spirit of Mandela Day dedicating 67 minutes of our time to meaningful action within our communities, our focus is on making a tangible impact through both volunteer and financial support, aiming to uplift those in need and contribute to a better world.

This year we decided to support three different initiatives.


On Mandela Day, The Star Foundation embraced the S.A. Harvest #BucketsofNutrition challenge by sponsoring 67 buckets filled with essential non-perishable items at R500 each, totaling R33,500. Together with the team from LottoStar, we volunteered to fill as many buckets as possible in 67 minutes and helped pack and distribute 300 buckets to support families in need in Alexandra, Johannesburg.


We provided 670 canes at R50 each to visually impaired individuals empowering them with independence through the S.A. Guide Dog Association for the Blind. The total contribution was R33,500.


We donated R170 per box of 24 Maxi Pads totaling R67,000 to Girls with Wiings in support of young health and education. This contribution provided 394 schoolgirls with essential menstrual hygiene products, enabling them to pursue their education confidently.

The Star Foundation aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others through these initiatives. While we take pride in our efforts on July 18th, we understand that real impact requires sustained commitment beyond a single day. We have faith in the influence of volunteerism and philanthropy to bring about lasting change.


Mandela Day 2024

 , The Star Foundation joined forces with 

for a 12-month campaign. We have funded 200 catch-up surgeries performed by Project Flamingo.


Project Flamingo is a non-profit company that aims to improve inclusive cancer care in the South African public healthcare system by providing resources needed for breast cancer surgery.


It’s been an incredible year, and we’ve empowered 200 remarkable women from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape by providing them life-saving Breast Cancer Surgeries. These courageous women have been on the waiting list for at least one year.


Breast cancer surgeries are not just medical procedures. They are journeys of strength, hope and resilience. As we celebrate one year of impacting 200 lives, we are reminded of the dedication of the healthcare professionals.


Together, we continue to make strides in fighting against breast cancer and support those on their road to recovery.


 where you will find all our informative interviews and videos with advice from Dr Roodt and her dedicated team.

To learn more about the breast cancer journey - 

To learn how to do a breat self-examination - 

Milestone moments – 200 breast cancer surgeries completed

For the past two years, The Star Foundation has collected plastic tops, bread tags, coffee lids, and can tabs in Rosebank for the Sweethearts Foundation, resulting in wheelchairs for those in need.

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