The V&A Waterfront handed over a R200 000 cheque to the Santa Shoebox Project, part of which was raised through its December 2025 festive gift-wrapping initiative.
Santa Shoebox Project CEO Deb Zelezniak said they were grateful for the generous donation to their 2026 20th birthday campaign.
"It's our year of telling our beautiful story with our community, and this money will be allocated to over 500 children benefitting from reading corners within the Cape Town metropole," she said.
The funds will help construct 10 reading corners in under-resourced early childhood development centres across Cape Town and surrounding areas, benefiting more than 500 local children.
Deidre Vrede, Waterfront corporate social investment (CSI) and wellness senior manager, said this was the highest amount of money raised since the inception of the fundraiser at the Waterfront.
They handed a cheque over to the project, which is a South African non-profit organisation that collects and distributes personalised, essential gift boxes to underprivileged children in the country and Namibia during the Christmas season.
The gift-wrapping initiative raised R91 550, the largest amount since its inception in 2017. The V&A matched this amount to bring the total donation to R200 000 for the Santa Shoebox Project - Legacy.
Ms Vrede said since its inception, the annual gift-wrapping service has raised more than R624 000 for various charitable causes.
From Friday, December 12, until Wednesday, December 24, four gift-wrapping stations positioned at high-traffic points across the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre provided visitors with the convenience of having their festive gifts wrapped, while also contributing to a meaningful cause.
Ms Vrede said the contribution was a testament to the generosity of their holiday shoppers.
"We thank them for supporting such an amazing cause through our gift-wrapping initiative. Our partnership with the Santa Shoebox Project reflects our commitment to building long-term relationships with organisations that stimulate lasting change in communities,” she said.
To donate and for more information about the project visit santashoebox.org.za
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