RENALDO Gee, a Grade 12 learner from Daniel Pienaar THS was crowned Mr PE Teen 2019 and did his alma mater proud by winning various additional awards in the Junior/Teen Mr & Miss Port Elizabeth philanthropic pageant.
These additional awards include the Entrepreneur award, Senior Photogenic, Philanthropist Achievement, Mr Style, Debutante Achievement as well as the Senior Public Choice award.
The pageant was looking for “zestful individuals who are confident, intellectual, well groomed with good communication skills, and the ultimate characteristic is a humble personality with a passion for making a difference in the community”. All of these were ticked when it came to Renaldo.
“I believe in the golden rule of treating another as one would like to be treated,” said Renaldo who is the only finalist from Uitenhage in the philanthropic pageant.
All of the contestants were expected to do a fair amount of charity work in the lead-up to the pageant. This was no problem for Renaldo, as he enjoyed fantastic support from his fellow Tigers.
He had a food drive and also requested for cash donations in aid of charity projects of the Rolemodel Foundation. He did extremely well, thanks to the support of Daniel Pienaar Technical High School.
“I now, for the duration of my year of reign, have to continue supporting the Rolemodel Foundation projects which are in aid of needy persons,” said Renaldo.
The pageant serves a dual purpose, making a difference in the lives of the contestants and it brings about positive change in the community.
Therefore its slogan is: “Inspiring hope in the heart of the community” and that is exactly how Renaldo also feels.
The two major projects that he now has to gain support for are Imfundo Educare and a Laslappie Project.
“I need to collect donations of winter items in the line of beanies, gloves, scarves, warm clothing and food items. These will be handed out to the Imfundo kids,” said Renaldo.
“For the Laslappie Project, I need to collect donations in the form of wool, knitted or crocheted squares and/or blankets. The idea is to then have knee blankets made that can be handed to senior citizens in the Malabar community.”
The aim is for Renaldo to collect enough donations to be handed out to the beneficiaries on June 15th.
His future plan is to study civil engineering at Nelson Mandela University.
Renaldo wishes to thank parents Elroy Says and Heylee Gee, all at DP as well as his sponsors and coach for their support.
- For more information or to support Renaldo with donations for the Imfundo Educare and Laslappie Project, call his mother Haylee Gee on 073 868 3847.
