NBL invests in South Africa's future

According to Madeleine Human, Communication Consultant for NBL, NBL is the first organisation in South Africa to donate a full home to such an organisation "At the end of 2002, the Acres of Love homes came to the attention of the National Brands Social Investment Trust. After five months of discussion, review and a thorough review of the organisation, NBL decided to pursue this worthwhile cause and purchased a fourth home in Olivedale, Johannesburg, to help grow the orphanage."

Acres of Love provides the four fundamental principles of life to rehabilitate the children into productive citizens. "We offer safety, nutrition, medical care and education. These principles provide the children with a fighting chance at life and breaks the cycle of poverty," comments Tony Palmer, Development Director for Acres of Love.

"We are exceptionally proud of this social investment. We know through our involvement, many babies will receive the very best to ensure that they have a real chance for good health and productive futures, " comments Human.

The National Brands home will be used primarily as an orphanage for the abandoned babies and the garden cottage on the premises will be used as an office base for the permanent staff members of Acres of Love.

"Every organization needs to decide whether they can do a little for many or a lot for a few. At Acres of Love, we believe that with substantial backing, such as NBL have offered, we can do a lot for many. We endeavor to give back to the child that which was taken away from them, and that is their future, particularly in terms of the HIV-positive child."

With the global AIDS pandemic, NBL felt this was a worthy cause to support and is looking forward to a long and productive association with Acres of Love. There is hope that NBL will set the trend and encourage other corporates to become involved in similar social responsibility programmes.

"The 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," comments Palmer.