18 Jul 2011 Jacobs coffee’s unique contribution to Mandela Day
Jacobs Kronüng premium coffee got a head start in bringing Mandela Day to life at Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton, on Sunday 17 July by creating an impressive 2 700-cup mosaic artwork of the world’s favourite statesman. The creation which was overseen by renowned South African artist James Delaney, was built solely from cups of Jacobs Kronüng coffee.
In response to the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s international call for people to contribute 67 minutes of their time on Madiba’s birthday towards a charitable cause, Jacobs committed to donate R1000 per minute for the first 67 minutes spent creating this art piece.
Stuart Knott, Jacobs senior brand manager at Kraft Foods says that the Jacobs team wanted to find a way to pay tribute to Madiba ahead of Mandela Day (18 July) in their own way. “It’s the chance to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela, in our own unique way and in doing so giving back to the community,” he says. “In the spirit of Mandela Day, we spent at least 67 minutes constructing the artwork and donated R67, 000 to a good cause. We hope that our unique gesture adds something to the magic of this international event.”
The Jacobs team began creating this epic artwork at the Nelson Mandela Square at Sandton City at 12:00 on Sunday 17 July and encouraged the public to support the initiative. The Jacobs Connect Café was also on hand to give visitors a complimentary cup of steaming-hot Jacobs coffee.
Artist James Delaney enjoys looking at the world through “special glasses” – revealing where unexpected, delightful things happen. He has painted over 500 works which hang in South Africa, the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Spain – and the Jacobs ‘Madiba’ tribute is his first ‘coffee-cup’ art piece to date.
In addition to the creation of the artwork, the Jacobs team will also be joining the Nelson Mandela Square team in donating coffee along with non-perishable foodstuffs collected by the centre’s patrons to the Ithlokomeleng Old Age Home in Alexandra on Mandela Day itself, 18 July.
“We hope that the work our team put into our artwork will inspire people to give of their time on Mandela Day to improve someone else’s life. 67 minutes is not a lot of time – but you’ll be amazed at the difference it’ll make in someone’s life,” concludes Knott.
Source: Kraft