The SAB Foundation has released R12.6m as grant and business development support to 17 finalists in its disability empowerment awards.
The foundation disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in honour of its ’10th Annual Social Innovation Awards’.
“A total of R12.6m in grant funding and business development support was given to all our 17 finalists.
“Meat Naturally and Agricool Finance were awarded joint first place in the 10th Annual Social Innovation Awards, while Leafline Washable Sanitary Wear scooped first place in the Disability Empowerment Awards. All three winners were awarded R1.3m in grant funding,” it stated.
SAB Foundation’s Director, Bridgit Evans, said, “Over the past nine years, we have invested R80m in supporting 170 talented South African innovators. After all these years of being involved with social innovation at the SAB Foundation, I am still amazed and humbled by what each new round of our annual awards presents to us, and the levels of commitment and sacrifice that these unique entrepreneurs are prepared to make.
“This year in particular, we were so inspired by the entrepreneurs that we have met – despite a challenging year due to the ongoing pandemic, we have seen these incredible people not just surviving, but, in some cases, thriving.”
Other awards presented included the Social Innovation Awards aimed at innovators, entrepreneurs and institutions with prototypes or early-stage businesses that solve a social problem through a sustainable business model; Disability Empowerment Award Winners; Social Innovation Award winners, and other developmental awards.
