CASINO GIANT LONDON CLUBS INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES: ‘A DEAL FOR AFRICA’ - A CHARITABLE CAMPAIGN AIMED AT SOUTH AFRICAN TOWNSHIPS!

On July 13, casino operator London Clubs International will launch 'A Deal 4 Africa'. The campaign will run across all 10 clubs in a bid to collect a broad range of goods to be donated to townships – in the Gauteng Province, South Africa. LCI will be working closely with Portsmouth Premiership footballer and South Africa national captain Aaron Mokoena who grew up in Boipatong - a local township in Gauteng province. Aaron along with a host of his football hero friends will champion the cause here in the UK.

With a ‘deck of cards’ being an iconic symbol of casinos across the world it is appropriate to use Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs and Spades to differentiate the collection categories: Hearts represents: clean second hand clothing for adults and children, especially warm clothing. Smart clothes such as suits and dresses will assist a young person seeking employment thus enhancing their future prospects. There is also huge demand for clean second hand underwear. For Diamonds we would like to collect, children’s and adult reading books. For Clubs we are looking for sports kit and equipment this can include soccer boots, trainers, sports kit, footballs, tennis rackets cricket bats, South African kids love to play sport. Finally Spades we are seeking Art and Craft materials such as paint, paper, crayons, drawing and writing materials, glue and fabrics any arts and crafts materials. Each of LCI’s 10 clubs in the UK has been challenged to fill 4 feet of a forty foot shipping container with goods in the four suits, so if you would like to support the initiative you can pass by any of London Clubs venues between July 13 and the end of August. Choose between London, Brighton, Southend, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham or Glasgow, and drop in anything you can spare. Everything donated will be sorted by our staff and shipped in a full forty foot container to one of LCI’s international venues - Emerald Casino Resort - in Gauteng where the Emerald Charitable Foundation will distribute the goods to the townships and to local charities. Says Roy Ramm, Head of Compliance at London Clubs International: “London Clubs International is passionate in our role to support charitable issues both in our local communities and overseas. The Emerald Foundation was founded by one of our international casinos in South Africa and they have done an invaluable job fundraising for the townships since opening in 2001. “However here in the UK LCI has 10 casinos and a nationwide presence, and therefore we appeal to all of our customers, staff and of course members of the public who might be passing by one of our clubs to donate their goods. “Your donations will be put into the hands of the people who need them the most. We will be distributing the supplies directly to the children and needy within the townships and your clothes, sports goods, reading books and art material will make a huge difference to their lives. “We are NOT collecting money, but material goods that will instantly make a difference to the lives of the recipients. By September 2009 a huge number of people in Gauteng will benefit from your generosity.” London Clubs is pleased to announce that the national captain of South Africa and Portsmouth defender Aaron Mokoena will champion this initiative. Says Aaron Mokoena: “ I am pleased to be involved in this initiative and know what a difference it will make to some of the communities in the Gauteng area. I commend LCI for developing this initiative and look forward to working closely with them”