RENTAL software provider MCS has pledged 10% of its profits every year to charities across the world.
The company’s founder, Richard van der Knaap, emigrated to the UK from South Africa in 1973 and has since looked to help disadvantaged children globally. The charities MCS is currently sponsoring are; Friends of Alexandra, Columba Youth Leadership Program, Stewart House, The Link Foundation, and First Days.
Richard van der Knaap explained, “Over the years at MCS, we have dedicated many hours to helping our local communities and schools, which has been a great way for us to get involved and offer help where it’s desperately needed. We have now decided to donate 10% of our profits yearly to support our selected charities in the UK, South Africa, and Australia.”
The township of Alexandra, South Africa, is home to more than 500,000 people, 30% of whom live without electricity, running water, or sewerage. Friends of Alexandra is a pre-school creche, which relies heavily on donations to fund education and food for its younger children, many of whom are orphans. Columba Youth Leadership Program, a secondary school in Alex, helps teenagers develop leadership skills and give them access to opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise receive.
Richard added, “When I grew up in South Africa, Alex was only four miles away. Very quickly, I began to realise the vast differences between my upbringing and those of children in these townships. Pledging part of our profits as a business to help these children to gain an education and eat proper meals is a great way for us to continue to give back and make a difference in my home country, as well as other disadvantaged children around the world and those closer to home.”
The Link Foundation and First Days, based locally to the MCS HQ in Maidenhead, help families struggling in the local community, often due to circumstances beyond their control.
Richard said, “The Link Foundation and First Days are such worthy causes and tirelessly help families in our local community who desperately need it. It has helped make life easier for children and families who have nowhere to turn, and continually provides support to help children have as good a quality of life as possible.”
Finally, Stewart House, based in Sydney Australia, is a charity that provides sanctuary for children with challenging home environments to give them respite, building their self-esteem and resilience.
Richard added, “All of these worthy causes play a vital role in helping disadvantaged children to thrive and give them opportunities they may not have access to otherwise. In pledging 10% of MCS profits to these charities every year, we will be able to play a role in making a difference as part of our ongoing efforts to support our communities worldwide.”
