Did anyone say September, October, November, December – where on earth did the time go? This edition of TAG Talk is aptly named the ‘celebration edition’ and not because its Spring here in Mzansi but rather because of all the wonderful achievements that we have witnessed over these nine months of 2023. It is one thing presenting an opportunity, it’s another thing taking that opportunity and turning it into something truly spectacular. Because that is what our young men and ladies are doing and have been doing the entire year.

The date is set for our first TAG Party since 2019! The 27th of July will see us once again getting together and celebrating in the name of fun, education and supporting our wonderful young ladies and gents. Personally, I cannot wait, and I look forward to what should be a highlight of the year. We look forward to seeing you all there in person.

What a difference these last few months have been for our precious Tag Foundation Kids. Unmasked and smiling, what a joy to see those beaming faces. So much has happened since our last TAG TALK edition, great things and special moments have been shared. It is indeed a ‘Celebration’ edition packed with deserved accolades, achievements, and awards for our young ladies and gents, plus stories of triumph, determination, grit, and commitment.

As we were in the process of finalsing the latest newsletter all hell broke loose and the Covid variant Omicron became a thing. We will not let this deter us and view it as just another bump in the road. We remain hopeful, we are becoming more resilient and are more determined than ever to make a proper and meaningful difference in the lives of all TAG Foundation beneficiaries.

In penning this foreword for the First TAG Talk of 2021, there is indeed great excitement in the air. There are two reasons for this, a short but much needed break has had our boys and girls have some well-deserved ‘downtime’ and now they are geared-up for the Winter Sports and Cultural season ahead.

As Spring approaches, planning for our annual function and the Chris Gerber memorial golf day is usually in full swing. Sadly, this year it is not the case. Any planning during these uncertain times is near impossible, but we live in hope that we will manage to host you all in the not too distant future.

We were astounded to read that 61% of young South African children grow up in fatherless homes. This is quite simply a terrible statistic of our country and it makes the role of women that much more important in the fabric of South African Society.

Farewell and all the very best of luck to our seven matrics leaving us at the end of this year. It’s has been a privilege watching you grow into the fine young men you have become. This is just the start of your journey and we look forward to seeing what your futures hold. We encourage you to remember the TAG Foundation and the opportunities our generous donors have afforded you.

At the beginning of the third term two of the boys who have been on TAG Foundation scholarships were removed from the programme for disciplinary reasons. It was not a decision that was taken lightly and while we have sympathy for the boys and regret the disruption we have caused in their lives, we felt we had no choice but to take the action we took.