Pupil’s charitable initiative knocks King David’s socks off

King David School’s 75th Birthday Sock Initiative, the brainchild of Grade 11 King David Linksfield pupil Gina Dave, exceeded expectations by raising R223 691, netting R158 534 after expenses for distribution to outreach programmes.

Launched in May to help King David celebrate its history, the initiative involved students from Grade 1 to 12 on all campuses wearing three designs of sock, designed by Dave, on Forever Young Fridays for the year. Its success is based on the 28 parents who sponsored it; the South African Jewish Board of Education (SABJE), which helped Dave drive the initiative; the principals who allow students to wear the socks on Fridays; and the many students who have bought a pair of socks and wear them.

At an assembly on 8 September, a cheque for the sum of R100 000 was presented to Nicole Katz, group manager of fundraising at the Chevrah Kadisha, for Arcadia Children’s Home, and in the sum of R58 500 to Connie Biyela, fundraiser at Kids Haven Bryanston.

Dave said the initiative exemplified King David Schools’ and her personal values of community, outreach, and tikkun olam (repairing the world).

Rabbi Ricky Seeff, the general director of the SABJE, commended Dave for conceiving the initiative and driving it. “King David Schools is proud of Gina’s tireless efforts and cannot praise her enough for the valuable community work she has done, demonstrating our schools’ values of koach [strength] and community,” Seeff said.

Katz said she was overcome with gratitude and admiration for the community and for Dave , who singlehandedly brainstormed, fundraised, and brought to reality a logistically complex school-wide initiative. Not only had Arcadia benefitted, but also the children of Kids Haven, so tzedakah had reached the entire South African community through Gina’s initiative.