It is amazing to think where Laureus Sport for Good Foundation has come from to where we are today: From our humble beginnings with one project in Cape Town, to a Foundation with a national footprint where we not only fund and support Sport for Development programmes, but also play a role in the education and training, to mentoring NGOs around governance, fundraising and more – this has been an incredible journey.

As an organisation, we seem to gain more speed as the years go by, and 2023 was no different. And I am proud to confirm that we remain financially sound, thanks to our generous sponsors – in particular Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) who have walked the talk over the years with their active, inspiring and rewarding support.

On the topic of support, the 2023 calendar was also jam-packed with events and fundraising initiatives, including:

•       The annual Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Charity Ball, where some R1-million was raised.
•       The ever-popular annual Women’s Month breakfasts that were held in Pretoria and Cape Town respectively.
•       Our evergreen Golf for Good days where we raised hundreds of thousands of rands.
•       The JP Morgan Corporate Challenge, which also celebrated our 10th year as official beneficiary.

In addition, we had the great privilege of becoming the official impact partner for the SA20 League.

Read more about these events, and more, in this Annual Report. Our fundraising initiatives are vital to ensure that we remain in a position to assist Sport for Development programmes across SA, and I thank each and every one of you for the role you played to make all our events such a great success.

One project that I am particularly proud of is the Incubation Hub programme – a collaboration between Laureus and MBSA to boost Eastern Cape based non-profit organisations. The Incubation Hub offers support and mentorship to select NPOs by providing guidance on organisational strategy, governance, child safeguarding & vetting, financial management, monitoring & evaluation as well as online education sessions, mentorship and access to networks and other crucial aspects of managing an NPO. The support provided by the Incubation Hub is intended to significantly increase the chances of the NPO’s success, and 2023 saw the graduation of the second cohort of non-profit organisations. This project is a true testament of our shared vision with MBSA to create positive and lasting change within the communities we operate.

Laureus Ambassadors play a crucial role in all our activities, and freely give their time and talents to support Sport for Good programmes. We were thrilled to welcome more South African icons into the Laureus fold: Cricketer Laura Wolfaardt, world record holder Tatjana Schoenmaker, and award-winning media presenters Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp and Motshidisi Mohono joined the Laureus family in 2023. 

Read more about them – and our other ambassadors – in this report. Seeing the young beneficiaries of our programmes beaming with pride and joy upon meeting their heroes is something to behold, and our Ambassadors’ interaction with these youngsters create lasting memories.  I thank each and everyone of them for their continued and unwavering support.

Please take the time to peruse this annual report to see the lasting impact of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation on underserved communities across South Africa. It is our continued mission to use the power of sport to change the world, and the change we see in the communities we serve is both humbling and inspiring.

None of this would have been possible without the support of our sponsors and partners, our Board of Trustees, the gentle yet focused leadership of Marlene Coetzee, our entire management team, and the extended project teams for their hard work, passion and professionalism. They fly the Laureus flag wherever they are, and they embody the heart and soul of the Laureus Foundation.

2023 was an impactful year and I am looking forward to what 2024 will bring, as we branch into new areas, broaden our funding base and place an even stronger emphasis on education and programme support.