There is a difference between giving and building.
At its recent annual charity event, A Citadel Experience, Citadel raised R2.5 million in support of the Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation. The funds are directed towards securing the long term sustainability of the Blair Atholl Pre Primary School in Lanseria.
This is not a once off contribution. It is part of a structured, long term approach to philanthropy.
“The goal is not only to raise funds. It is to secure the future.”
Over the past eight years, Citadel has worked alongside the Foundation to build and manage an endowment. To date, R13.9 million has been raised specifically to support the school. The objective is clear. Not just funding. Continuity.
Citadel CEO Andrew Möller framed it as an investment in the country’s future.
“Investment in the education of South Africa’s children is a powerful act of belief. A decision to nurture potential, unlock opportunity and stand alongside the next generation,” he said.
The Blair Atholl Pre Primary School, founded in 1990, provides early childhood education and daily meals to 125 children from surrounding informal communities. Its role extends beyond the classroom. It prepares learners for formal schooling while supporting broader community upliftment.
For many of these children, the meal they receive at school may be the only one they have each day.
The model behind the funding is deliberate. It is designed to ensure sustained impact through financial stewardship, rather than short term support.
This year’s fundraising began with a golf tournament hosted by Gary Player at the Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate. The event brought together local business leaders, Springbok rugby legends and invited guests. It concluded with a gala dinner and charity auction, featuring performances by Boyzlife and the Ndlovu Youth Choir.
Gary Player spoke about the deeper purpose behind the initiative.
“We need more Ubuntu and love right now,” he said. “The Blair Atholl Pre Primary School has changed the lives of generations of children and our hope is that the sustainable funding we secured with Citadel will ensure that it continues to impact lives for generations to come. This was my wife’s final wish.”
The impact is visible at ground level.
School principal Kate Medupe says early childhood development plays a critical role in long term success. “Children from Blair Atholl Pre Primary School adapt more easily to structured learning and formal classroom settings, giving them a clear advantage as they move into Grade 1,” she explained.
Citadel’s Head of Philanthropy, Jean de Villiers, noted that the initiative reflects a broader commitment.
“Since 2013, the Citadel Philanthropy Foundation has raised more than R68 million to make a profound difference to various charities, one such beneficiary is the Blair Atholl Pre Primary School,” he said.
The approach remains consistent. Structured. Long term. Focused on sustainability.
Because the goal is not only to raise funds.
It is to secure the future.