GEORGE NEWS - Great wine, delicious food and smooth music all contributed towards the whopping R50 000 raised for the much-revered Carpe Diem School in George, during the third Bon Vivant Charity Dinner.
This year's prestigious event attracted 50 well-heeled guests to the Garden Route's only beachfront boutique hotel
, The Views Boutique Hotel & Spa, on Thursday 11 June.
, The Views Boutique Hotel & Spa, on Thursday 11 June.
The venue provided the perfect setting and food that ensured these guests received only the best while being entertained by world-renowned Cape Town born musician, Louise Carver.
Local Master of Ceremonies Alewijn Dippenaar, who recently survived a bad fall, kept the guests entertained while informing them about the magnificent wines and food beautifully presented throughout the evening.
All guests agreed that the four course meal of roasted butternut and feta cheese ravioli, roasted garlic beef medallions with burnt sage butter mash served with a medley of seasonal vegetables, the trio of desserts followed by a cheese platter was "absolutely scrumptious and delicious".
The chosen wines from Hartenberg, Weltevrede, Hermanuspietersfontein, Ormonde and Fairview complimented the food completely.
Carver chatted to her relaxed audience, offering snippets of information behind her songs. She opened the evening with her hit, I don't know about it, a song that thrust her into stardom at the tender age of 17.
to her relaxed audience, offering snippets of information behind her songs. She opened the evening with her hit, I don't know about it, a song that thrust her into stardom at the tender age of 17.
The evening would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship of Paul Kitson and his wife Louise, of Discovery Life; Views Boutique Hotel & Spa and NIR wines.
Carpe Diem School Headmaster Karools Hauptfleish thanked the guests for attending. "When you see how many children need so much special care it could sometimes become overwhelming.
"But then again when you see the looks on the faces of the children and the pure joy they experience you realise that everything is worth it," Hauptfleish said.
The school caters for 300 children with special physical and intellectual needs. These pupils come from towns and farming communities along the Southern Cape coastline, from
Riversdale to Plettenberg Bay. Eighty-four of the 300 pupils are currently accommodated in the school's hostel. The school further has six customised, wheelchair friendly buses that transport 180 pupils on a daily basis.
the school's hostel. The school further has six customised, wheelchair friendly buses that transport 180 pupils on a daily basis.
For further information on Carpe Diem School contact the headmaster, Karools Hauptfleisch, on 044 874 4047 or carpekarools@telkomsa.net.
Bon Vivant coordinator Mimi Finestone (center) checking on guests, Christine and Prieur du Plessis during the elegant fundraiser.
Bon Vivant sponsor, Paul Kitson and his wife, Louise (right) receive a beautiful signed photograph of Louise Carver from Susan Pretorius (Carpe Diem volunteer).
Carpe Diem School Headmaster Karools and his wife Malie Hauptfleish with Susan Pretorius (Carpe Diem volunteer) admiring a photograph of well-known musician, Louise Carver.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: FRAN KIRSTEN, CORRESPONDENT.
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
