The impressive amount of R57,000 was raised for I Care at the Awesome Destinations art collaboration auction and partner recognition evening held at the Kizo Art Gallery in Gateway on November 14.

These funds were raised through the sale of six artworks created by 15 children of I Care at the Day of Expression and an original Anthony Wakabe Mutheki piece entitled The Way Home. Mutheki assisted the children with their paintings, which were vibrant, colourful representations of their lives and include paintings of the beach at Amanzimtoti, a home in Zululand and the streets of Durban.

The aim of the event was to thank the various sponsors of I Care and to raise funds for the continuation of the vulnerable children’s rehabilitation programme. MD of Awesome Destinations, I Care’s primary fundraising partner, Mr Costa Pnematicatos says: “The event was inspiring – people dug deep into their pockets and really supported this initiative.” MC’ed by East Coast Radio’s incomparable Daryl Ilbury and Travis Bussiahn, the auction was conducted by Ian Wyles and the evening’s entertainment was provided musician Wallace Nock of Music Inc. Craig Mark, the owner of Kizo Gallery, graciously donated the gallery space and has agreed to contribute a percentage of the proceeds raised from the auction of select Mutheki pieces.

I Care is a non profit organisation dedicated to providing sustainable solutions to the challenges facing children who live and work on the streets. Awesome Destinations has supported the charity on a fundraising and support level since 2005 and a total of nearly R 850,000 has been raised for I Care to date. Costa Pnematicatos envisages raising over R1 million in the near future.