Discovery Vitality empowers members to make a difference during Covid pandemic through #VitalityMoveToGive philanthropic initiative

In a bid to make a meaningful contribution to the fight against Covid-19, Discovery Vitality today announces a partnership with Shout4Masks. This initiative is the newest collaboration between Vitality and several other charitable organisations at the forefront of addressing the challenges of the pandemic.

Shout4Masks is a public service initiative by Shout SA and SMD Technologies to address the dire shortage of safe, quality, protective gear. Through the celebrity power of Kabelo Mabalane and Danny K, Vitality is enabling members to ensure healthcare workers on the frontline receive much-needed surgical and N95 masks. “Our strength as a nation comes from standing together as one,” says Danny K.

This partnership is part of the broader Vitality MoveToGive campaign, which affords members the opportunity, using Miles earned through Vitality Active Rewards, to contribute to any one of several charitable causes. Discovery Miles are earned by achieving exercise goals, driving well or spending responsibly.

“We have a firm belief that actions speak louder than words. Over the past few months, Vitality members have already helped raise over R2 million for supporting Covid-19 initiatives through Vitality MoveToGive,” says Vitality CEO, Dinesh Govender.

Recently, members have been able to donate Discovery Miles to Dis-Chem Foundation’s Million Comforts campaign. Studies have revealed that annually, school girls without access to feminine hygiene miss on average 50 schooling days due to menstrual-related hygiene challenges. The core function of the campaign is to provide young girls from underprivileged backgrounds with sanitary products and in doing so, give girls back their dignity and keep them in school.

Similarly, Afrika Tikkun, a youth-focused NGO that provides health, education, and social services support to the members of its programme responded to the call for social responsibility during the pandemic. In opting to donate to this cause, Vitality members have contributed during lockdown to the generation of food solutions for communities like Alexandra, where they are needed most.

Marc Lubner of Afrika Tikkun explains,”Our hope is that with the support of Vitality members and others, we will be able to create sustainable support for townships in need, and in particular help ensure food supplies in Alexandra through to the end of the year”.

Over and above these recent partnerships, Vitality has worked with a number of organisations that champion important social causes in our society, with more than 400,000 lives impacted since 2016. Specifically, during the pandemic, Vitality has partnered with UNICEF, FoodForwardSA, the SA Solidarity Fund, Woolworths and Gift of the Givers, to make a marked difference.

Govender adds, “We are inspired and humbled by how engaged our members have been in making these vital contributions during this testing time. Together with our newest partners, we salute and support South Africa’s healthcare heroes and all others on the frontlines during Covid-19.”

For more information on the #VitalityMoveToGive initiative and the other campaigns championed by Discovery Vitality, go to www.discovery.co.za/vitality/