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Gary Koetser, Century City Conference Centre and Hotels CEO, Kevin Campbell from Delta Airlines and Kevin Chaplin, Amy Foundation Managing Director. Kevin Campbell from Delta Airlines.

Kevin Campbell from Delta Airlines.

Together, changing lives

Century City Conference Centre and Hotels joined forces with Delta Air Lines and the Amy Foundation to feed 2,400 children and youth from vulnerable communities across Cape Town on two days in the month of July.

The Amy Foundation – formerly Amy Biehl Foundation – in the Western Cape is a non-profit organisation that offers programmes which develop and empower the youth, aged five to 35 years, from challenged and vulnerable communities.

“We have a long-standing partnership with the Amy Foundation and are always happy to assist in any way that we can. This resilient foundation continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of its learners through their after-school programmes in townships across the Cape as well as their impactful youth skills development programme based in Sybrand Park. Thank you to Delta for partnering with us on this initiative,’’ said Gary Koetser, joint chief executive officer of Century City Conference Centre and Hotels, “Contributing to the communities where we live, work and serve is part of Delta’s DNA,” said Jimmy Eichelgruen, Delta’s director of sales for Africa, the Middle East and India. “We are proud to work alongside the Amy Foundation to give back and help those in need from the Townships. Our support in providing meals for young people whose families struggle to put food on the table makes a real difference and helps to ensure that they don’t go hungry.”

“Collaboration and partnership are the backbones of any NPO operating in South Africa, but we cannot make the impact that is needed, alone. Century City Conference Centre and Hotels (CCCCH) and Delta have long been such partners. They see the wonderful work that the Amy Foundation is doing for the youth in our afterschool and youth skills development programmes, and they support our mission and vision of developing and empowering youth from disadvantaged communities. Through this partnership, CCCCH and Delta Air Lines will feed 2,400 youngsters in our programmes, for two days — for many in our programmes, this might be the only meal that they will receive. Collectively, we are making a difference. Together, we are changing the lives of young people and giving hope to those who have no hope,” said Kevin Chaplin, Amy Foundation managing director.

About the Amy Foundation

For 22 years, the Amy Foundation has been working to provide underprivileged learners in the Cape Town area with enrichment opportunities. With up to 1,000 youngsters participating in their programmes daily, the Amy Foundation empowers both the participants at the schools as well as in the surrounding communities. The Foundation was named after American student, Amy Biehl, a gifted and dynamic young woman who was committed to making a difference in South Africa. She tirelessly worked with members of the African National Congress (ANC) at the University of the Western Cape’s Community Law Centre on the new Constitution and Women’s Rights, as well as helped register voters for the country’s first free elections in 1994. On August 25, 1993, Amy Biehl’s life was tragically cut short in an act of political mob violence that occured in the Gugulethu township, just outside of Cape Town. Determined to honour Amy’s love of South Africa and her belief in the truth and reconciliation process, Amy’s parents founded the organisation.

For more information about the foundation, contact

Michelle Bagley at michelle@amyfoundation.co.za or

021 447 1690