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Name: Marlene Anne Fabe (better known as Molly)
Designation: Fundraising Coordinator / Manager. Cape Kidney Association

Professional Note:

The Cape Kidney Association is a Grassroots Non-Profit Association which assists Indigent kidney patients at Groote Schuur and Tygerberg Hospitals and surrounding areas of the Western Cape.  Our function is to assist patients with
– food (nutrition) parcels month      
-  Bursaries annually
-  Patient Support Group meetings monthly
-  Financial support to assist patients with small businesses
-  Transport costs for unemployed patients to get to hospitals for dialysis
-  Operational cost for the office with administration and salaries for two people.

I raise the funds through event management and organise the following;

1. Golf Days annually
2. Corporate luncheons at Kenilworth Race Course
3. Spring dance for nurses and patients
4. Charity booksale for four (4) days
5. Charity Christmas cards
6. Theatre shows
7. Cycle ride

Most of the funds raised are through the events mentioned, and I also submit written proposals to Corporate.  We also receive donations from the community in lieu of flowers in the event of a death of a patient.  My function therefore is to plan, organise, work out the budget, be at all the events, as well as being the MC sometimes which I enjoy and then to wrap it all up, pack up and return everything to the office.  I also do all the running around, collecting and delivering etc.

My special interest in the work that I do is planning the event from beginning to end. Since most of the work is done by myself, with the assistance of an office administrator who prepares all my paperwork.

What I love most about my work is the fact that although we are an NGO with a Chairperson and a small committee, I have ‘Carte Blanche’ on the events that I choose. For instance if I have a particular interest in a show that is about to be launched, I will enquire about a charity show, and communicate it to the committee, and since they trust my instincts, usually support me in my endeavours.

My most defining moment was when I realised that the Association needed a ‘Support Group’ for the patients as I receive many call for assistance, and I communicated this to our Chairman who said that I should go ahead and plan it.  I then planned a date, sent out notices, sourced a venue and on the day waited with abated breath for the outcome of attendance.  I went along to the hall, set out chairs, cups and eats and 50 people arrived.  By the end of the year we had 200 people that attended.  I have since opened another patient support group in the Northern Suburbs, and as it has only just been launched, the group is still growing.

Individual

I am married to Rodney, and have one daughter Meredith Jayne age 25yrs. We live in Golf Link Estate, Wynberg with a cat Sox and a new addition to the family Mylo, a young ‘pavement special’ whom I think is going to grow up to be a Doberman. I have many friends, and enjoy lunches and dinners out with my girlfriends. I enjoy attending body treatment workshops, and enjoy going to the Spa. I started a ‘Stokvel’ with a group of 7 ladies and we meet once a month for a dinner/meeting which is loads of fun as each one gets a turn to host the dinner. Although I don’t go often enough, but I do enjoy the gym, and am looking forward to returning yet again this week. I also enjoy walking.

Personal Note

For many years I was involved in Cosmetics (direct selling) and fashion.  I was fortunate that through the cosmetics I was able to travel abroad quite often.  I enjoy the world of fashion and cosmetics and even together with a friend many years ago, opened up our own ‘finishing school’.  I enjoy people contact so training was a very big forte for me. I also started my own training school namely ‘The Academy of Social and Communication Skills’ where I taught personal development, etiquette, dress code, make-up and how to love yourself.  I was forced to close down due to lack of funds.  My great achievement was how to be able to be Assertive without being Aggressive.  I do believe that the cosmetic company taught me a lot about discipline and people skills. The Owners of the company at the time, where I worked for 16 years were Avroy & Beryl Shlain, and who were great role models and they knew everyone by name and worked and played hard together with everyone within the organisation.

I started with the Cape Kidney Association purely by ‘default’ as I had no idea of fundraising at the time; I took a chance which paid off.  I attended many courses on how to become a fundraiser, and now serve on the Committee of the South African Institute of Fundraising.  I was meant to be with the Association for three (3) months whilst they found someone, and seven (7) years later, I’m still enjoying the work, helping others who don’t have.

I also belong to the International Lions Club of Kirstenbosch and served the club for one year as the President in 2006.  I have been a member for 11years now.

I would like to say to Women of South Africa: You can achieve anything in life if your heart and soul is in it.  I come from a previously disadvantaged background.  I was taken out of school early in my senior semester and had to find work to help the family.  To have achieved and be where I am today, I invested in myself by attending night school dong various courses, and always strived to be the best that I can be.

My motto is “if it’s to be – it’s up to me” and I live by that, because I do not wait for someone to make things happen for me, I do it myself.  I love life!!

My goal is to one day write a book and hopefully have it published, as there is so much more to my life that I could talk about.