Herbalife visits Acres of Love Mark Hughes Day 1st Feb 2008
On 1st of February Herbalife worldwide celebrated 28 years of changing people’s lives.The Founder of Herbalife, Mark Hughes left behind two legacies – the Herbalife company and the Herbalife Family Foundation.
On 1st Feb 2008 Herbalife SA celebrated “Mark Hughes Day” by visiting Acres of Love South Africa and kick off the Herbalife Family Foundation’s annual pledge drive. Created in 1994 by Mark, the Foundation has helped thousands of children around the world. The Foundation has two main purposes: Casa Herbalife program to help bring healthy nutrition to children; and working with organizations on the scene in response to natural disasters.
In South Africa our Herbalife program supports Acres of Love in Gauteng.
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Destiny Health Walk For Life
www.destinyhealth.com
Destiny Health Raised over $50 000
For one month, during the season of giving, Destiny Health invited a select group of Vitality Champs, as part of a pilot competition, to Walk For Life. Each Champ walked for life in a pedometer challenge that helped raise money for the children in Acres of Love
in Johannesburg, South Africa.) We salute Andrew Sikes and his team for their passion and enormous effort That will change the destiny of many children in South Africa. Read More (PDF 200K)
Absa Continues to support Acres of Love
 ABSA is Making A Difference - ABSA has been a long-term partner with Acres of Love in providing a new vehicle for each Forever Home opened over the past two years. Recently, the local ABSA branch managers in South Africa have taken their commitment to our children one step further and have begun refurbishing a number of Forever Homes, taking children on special outings, providing new clothing and jungle gyms, and even planning Christmas parties with Santa as a special guest! As Acres of Love continues to grow and expand, we value immensely the corporate and individual partnerships that will enable us to rescue even more children into secure, happy and nurturing homes.
Acres of Love children attend Lion King - Nov 9th 2007
 Give Our Regards to Broadway…The night of November 9th was one that will live in the memories of the Acres of Love children for a lifetime! On that special evening, thanks to the generosity of George & Sue Foster, 88 children and house parents from Acres of Love attended “The Lion King”, currently touring in South Africa. The show was perfect for our children (many already big Simba fans!) and they were able to celebrate, with so much pride, all that is African. The beauty, vibrancy, rhythm and spirit of the people of South Africa were mirrored in the performance. The experience was a first for many of our house parents as well, never have been given the opportunity to see a production of this caliber. That magical night is still talked about again and again in our Forever Homes, and will be for years to come!
Samsung Donates to Acres of Love - 12-12-2007
The Acres of Love team would like to extend our thanks to the incredible team at Samsung in South Africa. For the second year in a row, in addition to the high-quality appliances and electronics that they donate to our homes, they have decided to make a generous contribution of support towards Acres of Love rather than purchasing traditional Christmas gifts for their VIP clients. We are so grateful for their ongoing partnership in providing so generously for our children. As you can see, our children were very willing to “help” accept Samsung’s kind gift!
Update on Acres of Love Preschools
Acres of Love now has 27 children from the 15 Forever Homes enrolled in the 2 Acres of Love Preschools. These preschoolers are perhaps the busiest people at Acres of Love, filling our days with their limitless energy, boundless joy and keeping us constantly on our toes! The two preschools enjoy weekly outings that allow our children to explore the community and creation around them. Each week our preschool located in Bryanston takes a field trip to Casalinga, a beautiful farm owned by faithful Acres partners Jenny & Peter De Luca, where the children are able to climb and run on acres of farmland and jumping on the trampoline (their favorite pastime of all!) We are so thankful for the members of the community in South Africa who have welcomed our children on such grand adventures with open arms.
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Evening with a Purpose with Concert Pianist Galina Ryzhikova
 Just two weeks after returning from their March visit to Acres of Love, the second annual team of Safari Sisters teamed up with last year’s original Safari Sister ladies to host a lovely evening that raised a great deal of awareness and support for the children in their Forever Home. Held at the home of John & Lynn Siefker, each of the Safari Sisters brought a few close friends to hear a wonderful piano concerto performed by accomplished concert pianist Galina Ryzhikova. Ms. Ryzhikova studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatoire and has performed around the globe in countries such as Germany, Namibia, Mozambique, France, Italy, Japan and South Africa. She was honored to perform at the birthday celebrations of President Nelson Mandela. Following the concerto, Safari Sisters Cheri Shank and Pat Thomas shared moving accounts of their experiences while at Acres of Love and the vision behind the Safari Sisters Forever Home. A number of women in attendance at the event have already asked to join next year’s trip! We thank each of the Safari Sisters for serving as such wonderful advocates on behalf of the children in South Africa – those who have been rescued, and those still waiting.
Easter Celebrations at Acres of Love
Easter weekend was one for the memory books for the children at Acres of Love! The Grace Hotel in Rosebank and Jaguar & Subaru of Bryanston each put on Easter celebrations for the children at Acres of Love. On Saturday April 7, 2007, 15 children from the Benoni region of Acres of Love attended a special event hosted by the staff at the Grace Hotel complete with an Easter Egg Hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny! The very next day Jaguar & Subaru of Bryanston turned Royce Road into an Easter Extravaganza! The children who attended enjoyed a jumping castle, an Easter Egg Hunt (they were also joined by the Easter Bunny!), and loved the hotdogs and sweets that were so generously prepared for them. The wonderful partners who hosted these events have helped to create wonderful memories of laughter and love for our children – we are so thankful.
Samsung donates R330 000 to charities following Samsung's first golf day - March 2007
[ Johannesburg, 7 March 2007 ] - If there is something missing from your life, give something to charity! This was the message conveyed at Samsung Mobile's first annual charity golf day, which was hosted in December last year.
The Samsung Charity Golf Day, which was held in the green, leafy suburb of Parktown at the Parkview golf course, raised in excess of R300 000. Samsung handed over R100 000 to MAD (Make-A-Difference Foundation) and R230 000 to Acres of Love earlier today at the Samsung offices, in Bryanston.
"The children of South Africa are the future of this country. Samsung Mobile Phones understand the importance of the fight against HIV/AIDS and the importance of education, and are proud to be in a position to assist such worthy causes," says James Munn, Vice President, Mobile Phones. Read More >>
Back to school 2007
On January 10, 2007 fifty three of the children at Acres of Love woke up with the excitement that only the first day of school can bring! Not content to simply watch from the window, even the early morning chill couldn’t hinder their enthusiasm as the kids ran out of their front doors to wait for the carpools to arrive. With our kids attending 14 different schools, including those who specialize in serving children with special needs, the morning carpool routine can get rather complicated – but our incredible house parents are up to the challenge! Each morning their vans fill with the squeals and lively chatter of kids who can’t wait to get to school and see what the day holds! Not to be left behind, 25 of the younger Acres kids headed off to the two Acres of Love preschools so that strong foundations can be laid for all of their school years to come.
Herbalife Establishes Two New Casa Herbalife Programs
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 5, 2006--The Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) has established two new Casa Herbalife programs at Ministerios de Amor, A.C. in Mexico and Acres of Love in South Africa, supporting children in need through good nutrition.
In 2005, HFF introduced Casa Herbalife, a program to help provide healthy and nutritious meals by partnering with existing charities serving children. This program for children-at-risk is named after Casa Herbalife, an orphanage the HFF built in Brazil in 1998 and continues to support today.
One of the obstacles to serve more children at Mexico City's Ministerios de Amor, A.C. facility in Iztapalapa has been the lack of an industrial kitchen necessary to serve the 200 children the facility can care for. The new Casa Herbalife program at this location will allow the organization to complete a comprehensive kitchen remodeling project, which includes all new equipment and supplies, and industrial appliances.
Ministerios de Amor, A.C. is committed to working with children considered high risk, homeless, orphaned or born to parents in prisons (receiving them at birth and up to the age of 15), saving them from abuse and abandonment. The organization is committed to upholding the rights of children by providing them with integral support in the areas of health, education, nutrition and dwelling. HFF has supported Ministerios de Amor, A.C. since 1999.
Acres of Love, in South Africa, was founded in 1998 to support orphans and abandoned children living with or affected by HIV and AIDS in and around Johannesburg. With 12 houses in the city, its aim is to provide 'forever' homes for each child, ensuring he or she receives the long-term care and assistance they need to develop physically and emotionally. Some, but not all of the children, may later be adopted. Good nutrition plays a key role for all of them.
Herbalife CEO Michael O. Johnson visited both facilities with Herbalife independent distributors who, along with their colleagues, will be supporting the programs on a local basis moving forward.
These two new Casa Herbalife programs brings the total number established by the Herbalife Family Foundation worldwide to 17.
The Herbalife Family Foundation is a private, non-profit organization supported by Herbalife Ltd., its independent distributors, employees, friends and families. Created in 1994 by Herbalife founder Mark Hughes, the Herbalife Family Foundation's mission is helping children in need by offering support in overcoming life's most basic challenges, from escaping poverty, hunger and abuse to receiving adequate medical care and education. In addition to developing Casa Herbalife programs worldwide, HFF often responds to natural disasters by establishing special funds, as it did for victims of the tsunamis, earthquake and hurricanes that struck in 2004 and 2005.
Volunteers at Acres of Love, South Africa- Summer 2006
This summer was a busy season for volunteers at Acres of Love. With several teams visiting from the US, our children had the chance to participate in the “Serengeti Trek”, a two day Vacation Bible School. The back garden of the Kelly May Howard-Browne Child Enrichment Center was transformed into a safari camp where the children enjoyed storytelling, wacky games, colorful crafts and lively music. During this fun-filled weekend, 60 of the Acres children heard messages of courage, hope and purpose as learned about different Biblical heroes. And while these volunteer teams had arrived in South Africa with ideas, stories, and love to share, they left this experience having received so much more in return. As many laughs were had and many hugs were given, lives were also changed.
This blessed adventure gave each team member the opportunity to become forever attached to the cause of the fatherless in South Africa. In just two days time, their understanding of HIV/AIDS and orphans shifted from statistics, facts, and pictures to the smile and laughter of one child....a child they will never forget.
July 2006 - Acres of Love Annual Picnic at Zoo Lake
On Thursday July 13th all of the children, house parentsand staff of Acres of Love gathered at Zoo Lake in Johannesburg, South Africa, for a day of fun, games and food from KFC. It was our first ever All-Acres of Love event and we have already had a number of requests from house parents to make it an annual gathering! What a sight to see all of the nearly 100 children currently living in our Forever Homes all in one place! The house parents enjoyed playing their own game of soccer (no children needed!). To see the children playing together you would think they all lived under one roof - they seem so much like brothers and sisters! We look forward to many more occasions in the future in which we can all celebrate together what God has done in the lives of the children at Acres of Love as their numbers continue to grow…
4th Annual Sunset Serenade
“A spectacular setting!” “Enchanting evening!” “World class entertainment!” “Excellent presentation!” - this is the feedback I am still getting after our Fourth Annual Sunset Serenade on Orange County - Read More...
Naartjie donates to Acres - May 12, 2006
Acres of Love would like to thank Naartjie for generously giving our children beautiful clothing from a number of its retail locations. The bright and fun clothing Naartjie supplies to the kids at Acres of Love allows them to feel special and to celebrate being children. We are so thankful for the part they play in restoring the childhoods of these precious little ones! Please visit Naartjie on the web at www.naartjie.homestead.com
Half a million for Acres - November 2005 by Pippa Rowles
BRYANSTON-based Acres of Love, which provides a home and family environment for babies and children affected by HIV/Aids received a whopping R500 000 from the Dettol Trust for Aids (DTA). Reckitt Benckiser, which produces Dettol, put 50c towards the DTA for every litre sold. This year, the DTA enlisted the help of the SABC which publicised the campaign on nine of their public broadcast radio stations. The public was encouraged to buy Dettol and also to nominate worthy charities as recipients. Of the huge file of nominations, three Aids organisations were selected to receive R500 000 each. The money has to be spent on ‘tangible goods’ which Vijendren Govindsamy of Dettol explained. "We need a wishlist from Acres of Love so we can buy actual goods they need, we do not just throw money at charities."
Gerda Audagnotti, founder and CEO of Acres of Love, thanked the greater community for the incredible support they had received and for making their goal of integrating the kids into the community possible. She made special note of the young women from St Stithians and Brescia House, who volunteer at the home. "This is the biggest single cheque Acres of Love has ever received in SA and it will help us to build the leaders we believe we have in our homes," said Audagnotti.
Pippa Rowles
Reporter - Fourways Review
Caxton Community Newspapers
082 365 6732
 Absa Vehicle Management Solutions Provides Vehicles for Acres of Love! - November 2005
Lease Plan has been a longtime Acres of Love corporate supporter and has recently joined Absa and is now known as Absa Vehicle Management Solutions. Gerda
Audagnotti, Acres of Love CEO, and John Broadway, Absa managing director, have met several times over the last few
months discussing the Acres of Love transportation needs and the result is amajor commitment from Absa to provide an Acres of Love “fleet” of vehicles. The entire Acres of Love team thanks Absa for their generosity in helping with this critical need for transportation.
As Acres of Love grows and expands with more Forever Homes, it is vitally important that we have the capability of transporting our children and their house parents safely and efficiently. This phenomenal arrangement with Absa provides Acres of Love with the following vehicles to be delivered in September: 4 Kia Pregio Minibus’s – these are beautiful multi-passenger vehicles with 11 seats
that will be perfect for all the various trips that are required on a daily basis for the Acres “families”. 1 Kia Rio 1500 Sedan – this passenger
vehicle will be utilized by the Acres of Love staff to run errands and for use when Acres staff is visiting from the U.S., thereby eliminating the need for costly rental cars. 1 Kia K2700 Workhorse utility truck – this
fantastic flat-bed truck is the ideal vehicle for the food pick-up & delivery runs that have become an important aspect of the work Acres of Love is doing in the local community.
The agreement with Absa includes allinsurance cover and full maintenance for all the vehicles and also includes an additional 2 Pregio minibus’s to be delivered in early 2006 to match up with the
anticipated opening of more Acres of Love Forever Homes.
Thank you Absa Vehicle Management Solutions and John Broadway for making such a vital and important contribution to Acres of Love! Your kindness and generosity will have a lasting impact on the lives of
the precious children at Acres of Love.
A huge thank you to Peter and Jenny de Luca for fostering Nkosi and for your dedication to help him heal.
Queen For A Day
"Thanks for making me a princess, love Vanessa"
Joburgs most recent Queen For A Day
On the 23rd of July the girls from Marang House and Acres of Love were invited for a day of pampering. The venue was the Paintbox Studio were the girls got to paint their own T-shirts (and take them home!).
This has to be the ultimate 'dress up' game, and the girls just loved getting their make up done as well as their nails. The sponsor of Queen For A Day (South Africa) was present and 'crowned' all the girls with their beautiful tiaras.
Click HERE to view
Jonathan Butler Helping Abandoned AIDS Babies Through Acres Of Love Benefit
 Like many Smooth Jazz performers, Jonathan Butler is always eager to give back to the community by performing at benefits. But there is one organization that the South African-born guitarist keeps close to his heart – Acres of Love, a South African non-profit that cares for abandoned, HIV positive infants and children. Current estimates place South Africa’s orphan count, as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, in excess of 750,000 children. The organization currently owns eight licensed children’s homes in and around Johannesburg. On Sunday (August 7th), Jonathan will help raise funds for Acres of Love at a private benefit in Southern California called the Third Annual Sunset Serenade. Jonathan is on the board of directors for Acres of Love, which also has a fund-raising branch in Orange County, California, not far from where Jonathan now lives. Butler will be leaving for the benefit after performing Saturday (August 6th) in Woodinville, Washington. He’ll be performing with guitarist Peter White, saxophonist Richard Elliot and trumpeter Rick Braun as part of the Jazz Attack tour. Meanwhile, Butler’s latest CD called “Jonathan” features the Smooth Jazz single “Fire & Rain.” [SmartJock - posted August 5, 2005]
Jonathan Butler says that Acres of Love’s homes for HIV-positive children are designed to be welcoming:
"I don’t mean a little one-bedroom with one door and a window, and an outhouse. I’m talking about providing homes that you and I would want to live in. And each home has 10 kids with nurses and doctors on staff. And ah, each child have their own medication to take three times a day. I’ve been there, I’ve seen it and it’s very transparent what it is that we do. And so, and it’s pretty comprehensive."
 Acres
of Love Santa Barbara and Friends forever home
 Brent
Payne and Shane Krider, co-founders of Liberty League International
,
standing to the left and right of Frank and Yuani Atkins holding
the check,
Mr.Joe Neid, Director of Operations , far right.
Acres of Love participated at the annual
Festival of Children in September 2004
 Life
Church, in partnership with Greg & Amy Albertyn, has committed funds
to purchase and support an Acres of Love "Forever
Home".
 Turner
New Zealand Restaurant in Costa
Mesa supports Acres of Love
 Jim
Bellino and his fiancée Alexis
“On October 7, Jim Bellino, the
owner of Margaritaville restaurant in Newport Beach, California,
closed down his restaurant for a private
benefit to raise funds for Acres of Love. Jonathan Butler , famous
jazz guitarist and singer was the main attraction at this event
and moved
the crowd with hits from his latest album ‘
the worship project’. Sherill Sedillo who chaired the event
said that the success of this event will provide much needed
funds for Acres children to receive the best medical care available
at a clean,
well equipped, fully staffed hospital.Acres of Love is grateful
for the selfless support and goodwill from Jim Bellino.
 Sue
Bergman Forever Home:
On September 11, a benefit evening, called “
love across the oceans” , a party with a purpose ,
was held in Laguna Beach at the stylish residence of the Bergman
family. Sue Bergman bought an
Acres of Love ‘Forever Home’ out her foundation and
the proceeds from the benefit evening will go
towards the running cost of the home.
Sun
International donated funds to upgrade the security system at
Acres of Love
Casalinga Event
The dinner at Casalinga was elegant and
a huge success. The food was outstanding and the silent auction
generated much enthusiasm
and excitement. It was really special to be enjoying a memorable
evening together with friends - all united in the common cause
of the children. There is no doubt that we do make a difference
and that Acres of Love most definitely has a voice. We will
speak for those who cannot speak for themselves!!! Congratulations
to Tony ,Yuani and their team for their outstanding efforts.
Casalinga Event Photos
Jonathan Butler
Jonathan
Butler, Two time Grammy nominee, jazz singer
and guitarist Jonathan Butler, performed at the Acres of
Love Benefit Concert in Laguna Niguel, California. We thank
all the sponsors and donors and especially
Greg & Deborah
Buckingham who hosted this prestigious event at their estate. Among our honoree
guests were the South African Consul-General Dr. Glaudine Mtshali.
  
From Left to Right -Jonathan
Butler. Dr Glaudine Mtshali, South African Consul-General with
Jonathan Butler. Acres of Love Events Director, Yuani Valentine, Jonathan
Butler and Gerda Audagnotti.
Kelly May Howard - Browne house
 In
memory of Kelly May Howar-Browne We thank Drs. Rodney & Adonica
Howard-Browne and the River at Tampa Bay for their continued support.
National
Brands home  National
Brands home is what we hope will be the first of many corporate
companies completely sponsoring an Acres of Love home and we
hope NBL will set the trend Link: http://www.nbl.co.za
Fastmoving.co.za : SA premier retail newsletter
 We
thank LeasePlan for partnering with Acres of Love. They are
providing funding to reduce the outstanding loan on Acres
of Love's third home.
Their staff will be active volunteers at Acres of Love.We would
also like to acknowledge LeasePlan for their generous donation
of a minibus vehicle. Visit LeasePlan Website.
Lottery
Board
 The
National Lottery Board in
South Africa donated R200 000.00
(approximately $ 18 000.00)
towards the running costs for
Acres of Love. http://www.nlb.org.za
  
Thank you to Sun International for
building a magnificent lapa at no. 31. It is an asset to
Acres of Love and a delight to our children to enjoy
the shade and comfort of the lapa. Sun International has
also generously donated a multi - passenger vehicle to
transport our children to school, clinics and recreational
activities. Click on image to view
larger.
Living faith ministries international
(washington)
 
Living Faith Ministries International donated another much
needed vehicle to Acres of Love. We thank them for their
continued support and interest in Acres of Love.
Adoption
News
 We are so thankful that our Moses,
who has been a part of our lives for many years, has been
adopted into a wonderful family in Bryanston, South Africa.
Appreciation
 Standard
Bank Card division donated
funds to Acres of Love. As seen in
this picture: Ines Pritz, Tito Mboveni,
Governor of S.A. Reserve Bank and
Janis Evans of Acres of Love.
Sun Micro systems donate to Acres of Love
"The 4th Annual Marathon of Golf
challenge, organised by Sun Microsystems held in Cape Town,
managed to raise R50 000 which was donated to Acres of Love." -
Read Article
AEG
 We
thank AEG for donating brand new appliances
for our homes.
Acres
of Love’s Home
of Hope is sponsored by
The Wisdom Center in Denton, Texas.
Volunteer Awards
 Volunteer
Awards were presented to Mackenzie Whelan and Lauren
Baker at St Catherine’s School in Laguna Beach, California,
for their fundraising efforts and compassion towards children
at Acres of Love.
Nov 2003 RAU University donates to Acres of Love
 GREY BREAKS AIDS/HIV STIGMAS WITH NEW PSA’S
Grey Worldwide South Africa has produced two PSA’s for Acres of Love, a South African non-profit organisation with an excellent five-year track record of providing the very highest quality of community-based and culturally appropriate and competent comprehensive care for abandoned and HIV/AIDS infants and children.
Acres of Love aims to break the stigmas and misconceptions surrounding children living with HIV/Aids, and provide these children with as normal a childhood as possible.
Says Alan Irvin, Grey’s executive creative director, “So many commercials dealing with HIV/Aids have been done in the past, and we didn’t want to rehash old themes and risk losing the interest of the public and the opportunity to make a real impact, so we turned to our client for inspiration.”
The first commercial opens on a young boy facing a wall who appears to be abandoned – a misconception that is turned on its head when it is revealed that, like any other child his age, the boy is simply playing “hide and seek”. >> View Commercial 1
The second commercial shows a little girl lying on the ground, who appears to be ill, until the viewer realises that she is actually feeling ill because she’s been overdoing it on a playgound roundabout. >> View Commercial 2
Concludes Irvin, “Acres of Love is spreading a very positive and important message – that children should be allowed to be children, regardless of their HIV status.” |
