• Sport

Standard Bank backs SON fundraiser with N$50 000

• 1 Hour Ago

Special Olympics Namibia (SON) has secured N$50 000 from Standard Bank Namibia towards hosting its inaugural Padel and Plunge for Purpose fundraiser, scheduled for 21 November at Namibia Padel in Windhoek.

The bank was announced as the event’s main sponsor on Monday, as SON works towards raising between N$150 000 and N$250 000 to support athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

The fundraiser will combine a padel tournament with a Polar Plunge ice-bath challenge, bringing together corporate teams, social players, public figures and community members.

It aims to raise funds for year-round sports training, health screenings and national team preparations.

‘Inclusion is a shared responsibility’

SON national director Levien Smit welcomed the sponsorship, saying the bank’s involvement would help turn the inaugural initiative into reality.

“We are incredibly grateful to Standard Bank Namibia for believing in this initiative and stepping forward as our main sponsor.

“Their support sends a powerful message that inclusion is a shared responsibility and that creating opportunities for people with IDD requires all of us to play a part,” Smit said.

She added that the initiative goes beyond fundraising by bringing communities together and raising awareness about inclusion.

“It is about bringing people together, challenging perceptions, creating visibility and reminding our communities that people with IDD deserve the same opportunities to participate, belong and thrive.”

Building on experience

Standard Bank Namibia’s Elzita Beukes said the bank hopes to build on its experience of bringing corporate partners together through sport for charitable causes.

“We have seen first-hand the power of bringing corporates together through sport for a good cause,” she said.

“Through our own Padel for Purpose initiative in support of Buy-a-Brick, we saw how a shared purpose can mobilise people and create meaningful impact.”

Beukes said Standard Bank hopes to bring the same momentum to the Padel and Plunge for Purpose initiative to create more opportunities for Special Olympics athletes to participate and compete.

“For Standard Bank Namibia, inclusive community development is about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to be part of Namibia’s growth. Namibia is our home, and we drive her growth,” she said.

About the fundraiser

The 21 November fundraiser will feature Corporate Cup and Open Social padel divisions, alongside the Polar Plunge challenge, where corporate executives and individuals will raise funds through pledges before taking a dip in ice-cold water.

The event gets underway at 07:00, with corporate padel pairs paying N$2 500 to enter and social pairs N$800. Corporate executives are expected to raise at least N$5 000 in pledges for the plunge, while individuals can participate with a pledge of N$1 500.

– mariud@nsh.com.na