La Mouette restaurant in Sea Point has collected by far the most monies for the StreetSmart charity of all restaurants in South Africa in the past year!

StreetSmart restaurants collect a voluntary R5 in addition to the restaurant bill total, to ‘support street children and children at risk’. Last year the donations raised more than R1 million. All the monies raised are dedicated to education, skills training, and ‘family reunification‘, to help ‘normalize’ the lives of children and reintegrate them into society.

The Top 10 StreetSmart restaurants are as follows:

#   La Mouette R73095

#   The Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa R52385

#   Taj Cape Town R48963

#   Savoy Cabbage R44142

#   Licorish Bistro R35960

#   Myoga

#   Aubergine

#   Tobago’s

#   Gold Restaurant

#   Nonna Lina

La Mouette co-owner Mari Vigar said about its StreetSmart leadership: ‘We are humbled and honoured by the overwhelming support we have received from our patrons to be able to make a contribution to a cause we believe in this much. StreetSmart has become a part of our daily routine and is by far our favourite EFT of the month. It is our wish for 2016 that all restaurants support them. StreetSmart is a tangible and visible charity where you can help as much as you are comfortable with – your patrons can contribute (or not if they wish) and together you can physically see how you can change lives. Living the change you want to see is easy; with just one contribution at a time, you can change someone’s life forever. This is what StreetSmart does and La Mouette is a proud partner of the journey‘.

StreetSmart SA Chairman Melanie Burke has thanked restaurants for raising funds. She warns against giving money to street children directly, and encourages diners to donate by dining out at restaurants. She has also invited more restaurants to join StreetSmart.

StreetSmart SA was established 11 years ago, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu as its patron. Similar StreetSmart charities operate in other countries.

StreetSmart SA, Tel (021) 418-0621,  www.streetsmartsa.org.za  Twitter: @StreetSmartSA

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whalecottage.com/blog  Tel 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@WhaleCottage  Facebook:  click here