When Synergy Business Intelligence employees gathered for their end-of-year function in February last year, it was with deeply mixed feelings: on the one hand, they were celebrating a successful and fruitful business year; but on the other, they were still in shock at the news that a well-loved and respected colleague had died in an accident on the way to the event venue.
Now, almost a year later, Elna Britz's colleagues and Synergy BI customers are about to gather again - this time to bring tribute to the senior consultant whom they knew as an extraordinarily generous person, who consistently used her resources to serve others in the most profound ways.
“It was a dark day for Synergy BI when three of our colleagues were involved in that accident. We were still coming to terms with news of the crash when we received the call that Elna had died at the scene,” recalled Synergy BI MD, Christo Bredenkamp.
Bredenkamp said in the past year he had often wondered what Synergy BI could do to honour the life of this much loved colleague and friend, and at the same time, do something Elna was passionate about: serving the cause of those less fortunate.
“Elna lived life to the full, so we wanted to do something that would breathe life into a deserving cause, and bring hope to others. We decided on a charity golf day, which we call the Elna Britz Annual Memorial, and through which we pledge to benefit a different charity each year.
“As our first beneficiary, we have chosen Foundation Backbone, a body of volunteers who are passionate about reaching out to, supporting and empowering organisations involved with children in need. The foundation works hard at adding some fun into the children's lives, with day trips and an annual camp as part of their offering,” said Bredenkamp, adding that Synergy BI employees were particularly excited about yet another way in which they could serve the community.
“Synergy BI is already involved in a meaningful way in Lawrence House, in Woodstock. This is a home dedicated specifically to the care of abandoned, separated or unaccompanied refugee children. Our staff not only gives materially, but also eagerly volunteers their skills as well as their personal time to benefit these youngsters, and they love it.”
Bredenkamp said the golf day was not Synergy BI's attempt to immortalise the memory of Elna - “that will live on unaided in the hearts of family, friends and colleagues-turned-friends. It is, instead, our aim to continue to impact the lives of those desperate for an act of kindness, and to do so with the grace and generosity that marked Elna's life and her interaction with both colleagues and customers.”
Hosted and managed by Golfbizniz, the inaugural Elna Britz Annual Memorial Golf Day will be held on 24 February at the beautiful De Zalze course, at Spier, near Stellenbosch. Entry fee is R3 000 per four-ball, which includes green fees, halfway house, after rounds snacks and prize giving.
* If you want to treat yourself, your colleagues or customers to a day on the course, while doing good to those in need, contact Christel Myburgh at christel@golfbizniz.co.za, or call her on 021 975 5358 before 17 February.
* Organisations are also invited to partner with Synergy in the form of sponsorships and prizes. Contact Priscilla.doig@synergy.co.za for more information.
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