The Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) is set to benefit from a R5 million sponsorship from the JAG Sports and Education Foundation.
Founding member of the foundation and managing director of JAG Investment Group, Greg James said, “In return for our investment, we bring in to the WPCA our business expertise and financial administration. Because sound financial administration and control is what this country need in order to grow.”
The JAG Foundation, which aims to steer children off the streets and away from gansterism and drugs by encouraging them to take up sport, has also entered a financial partnership with the Boland Rugby Union, James said.
This enables the young rugby players of Boland Rugby to pursue their dreams, which were almost shattered after the Rugby Performance Centre’s sponsor – Fidentia – was placed under curatorship. The JAG Sports and Education Foundation, headed by Olympic medalist Elana Meyer, engages with selected youth sports and education campaigns to implement programmes, which encourage children to participate in sport.
“The foundation supports children using schools as a vehicle and sport as the fuel for a better life. The future of South Africa depends on nourishing and growing our children, ensuring they are first and foremost protected from the harm of drugs and gangsterism, and secondly that they have access to the opportunities to be fit and healthy, to increase their self-worth and to help them focus on their studies,” says Meyer.
The foundation has entered into an association with Gayton McKenzie, a former prisoner who was instrumental in the establishment of the Jali Commission of Inquiry at which corruption in jails was exposed. Since his release from prison, he has been speaking at schools encouraging children not to use drugs, join gangs or commit crime. James said, “Sport ties in closely with a sense of achievement and self-worth. We want to keep children out of trouble. Gayton proposes to children that they follow sports programmes to fill the time while their parents are at work. It is then when they are most vulnerable. We want children to realize how much more fun it can be to take part in sport.”
Source: People’s Post, April 10 2007
Seen at the launch of the JAG Sports and Education Foundation last
Tuesday, from left, Ashwin Willemse (rugby player), Greg James (managing
director of JAG Investment Group), Jake White (Springbok Coach), Vince
van der Bijl (cricket player) and Gayton Mckenzie (motivational
speaker).
Unity in Sports: Tegla Loroupe, Greg James and Elisa Lopilale (one of
the warriors of Tegla’s Peace Foundation). Loroupe has formed a Peace
Foundation in Kenya to encourage children to participate in road
running. The Foundation, in association with international Kenyan
marathon runner Tegla Loroupe, will introduce extra-curricular
road-running programmes at schools in poor communities throughout South
Africa.
Sports enthusiasts: Tim Noakes, Marilyn Noakes, Deborah Kirsten, Gary
Kirsten.
A global aim: German Hernandez (New York Road Runners Foundation),
Ashwin Willemse and Tegla Loroupe.
Contact Information:
info@jagfoundation.com
0027 021 7027880