Everyone can remember being asked to donate R2 at KFC at least one time.
Whether or not you have donated is neither here nor there but many thoughts run through one’s mind at this moment.
“Where is this R2 going?”, “Is R2 even enough to feed a child?”, “How much is made from every customer’s donations?” and even “I wish people could also donate R2 to me” are just some of the thoughts people have when they finally get to order their favourite meals at the franchises.
To ask one of these thoughts, Andra Nel, KFC Marketing Manager tells Drum that R5,572,780 is what has been made so far in R2 donations from KFC customers.
“We are thrilled to announce that as of 19 December 2023 alone, South African customers have raised an impressive R5,572,780 in R2 donations, KFC will match this amount which brings the total amount raised to R11 million so far with a third of the month still to go!”
“The biggest KFC Add Hope donations we’ve received thus far actually came from South Africa as a collective. The overwhelming generosity of our customers across the nation has been truly remarkable. Particularly, the Add Hope Festive campaign, a collaborative effort between KFC's Add Hope and Gift of the Givers, has been a monumental success in our efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition among South African children during this holiday season.”
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What many may not know is that KFC also donates a fixed percentage of operational costs to the Add Hope campaign annually and the R2 Add Hope donations are passed on with no admin fee.
Since 2009, the food outlet has had the Add Hope programme running, making it 14 years old.
This year, KFC has partnered with the country’s largest disaster response non-governmental organisation in Africa. It has helped provide R4.5-billion aid to 45 countries in over 30 years and will be using the R11 million to continue bringing hope and restoring dignity to the most vulnerable social groups by feeding hungry children.
“For millions of South African children, there is no holiday from hunger, particularly with the economy in the state it is in after the incredibly hard years of the pandemic. Having worked with KFC Add Hope in the past, it made perfect sense for us join forces this holiday season to work to Add more Hope,” said Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, the Gift of the Givers founder.
“The numbers of children suffering from hunger and malnutrition in South Africa increase every year. A report from the Nelson Mandela Children’s foundation in October found that there were ‘eight million hungry children’ in South Africa. We have seen it on the ground when we have worked at disaster sites, whether it be a fire or floods. Hunger affects children, parents and communities on a psychological, emotional and physical level and leaves millions struggling to hold on to hope.”
Annyally, the outlet’s initiative partners with over 130 non-profit organisations (NPO) in the Add Hope beneficiary organisation network and serves over 33-million meals to children in need annually. Since it began, Add Hope has raised more than half a billion rand.
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Given the proven power and stretch of the R2, Andra says the donation amount will not increase any time soon.
Even when driving through to get a quick meal, people can still donate the R2 even though it is less likely to be asked for it.
“Currently, there are no plans to scrap the Add Hope initiative. Thanks to the Add Hope initiative, thousands of children across South Africa receive a meal every day, and this means that they can learn, grow and thrive. Since its inception, Add Hope has become a fundamental part of KFC's commitment to corporate social responsibility, particularly in addressing the critical issue of hunger and malnutrition among children in South Africa.”
“The success of Add Hope is evident not only in the funds raised but also in the tangible impact we've made in communities across the country. We believe in the power of this program to bring about positive change, and the continuous support from our customers reinforces this belief.”
