CRESTA HELPS SOS CHILDRENS VILLAGES SHARE IN THE MAGIC OF THE FESTIVE SEASON
Much loved shopping centre launches CSI initiative to donate Disney plush toys to more than 800 underprivileged children across Gauteng.
Cresta Shopping Centre is calling on the public to help “Share In The Magic” of the festive season by helping to donate over 800 Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse plush toys to children who call the SOS Children’s Villages home.
The initiative, a collaboration with The Walt Disney Company Africa, saw the centre light up a giant seven-metre-tall Magical Toy Tree at its brand new Food and Entertainment Court last night, will run until Christmas Eve.
Celebrities and their children, including Jacques Blignaut, Stoane Seate, Matthew and Sonia Booth, Chanley Wong amongst others, joined a 720 strong crowd to witness the Cresta Shopping Centre Turning on The Lights event.
Hosted by popular TV personality Roxy Burger, the special Carols by Glow Stick night featured SAMA winning songstress LeAnne Dlamini, joined by the Boskop Primary School choir, who thrilled the public with festive tunes including Jingle Bells, Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer, All I want for Christmas and the single ‘Let it Go’ from Disney’s 2013 animated hit, ‘Frozen”.
LeAnne, joined by her daughters Zani and Zaya, was also given the honour of lighting up the tree, which features over 800 Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse plush toys.
Each toy on the tree is linked to the name of one of the children at the five SOS Children’s Village homes across the country, with each home housing about 100 children.
Visitors to Cresta are asked to select a name tag for a minimum donation of R50 and in that way, they will gift a plush toy to that child.
Each donor is able to personalize their gift by writing their own Christmas wish on the tag, before hanging it back on the donation tree. Last night, R4 700 was raised towards this initiative and shoppers are encouraged to get the tree sold out before Christmas.
Cresta Shopping Centre has made credit and cash facilities available to make it easy to donate, and is ensuring that every donation is recorded.
“We take pride in knowing that our loyal shoppers at Cresta are people who care, and by giving each visitor the chance to help SOS Children’s Villages Share in the Magic this festive season, we are able to make this a true season of giving,” said Cresta Shopping Centre General Manager Virginia Bester.
