Making a Positive Impact in Tembisa South Africa

The local Tembisa community was singing with joy as a mobile clubhouse was donated to the Parker Harriers Running club, a local charity where Parker Hannifin SA Sales Company has invested a lot of time and effort.

Parker has extended the Company’s culture of generosity with Tembisa the local township community. It is the second largest township in Gauteng, following Soweto with 463,109 residents, calculated by the Main Place 797005 from Census 2011.

Launch event

Parker Hannifin South Africa Sales Company (PHSA) organised and held a celebration launch event on the 8^th of February 2015. The Parker Harriers Running Club from the Tembisa area received a brand new club house.  The clubhouse is a Parker container that has been customised to suit the runner’s needs. The clubhouse has fitted lockers, benches and two Parker Water Fountains for clean drinking water.

Parker staff from South Africa as well as other countries attended this special event. Attendees were encouraged to bring their families to the event and activities were planned to entertain adults and children, such as the cutting of the ribbon, aerobics demonstration and a sprint session by the Parker Harrier runners.  Proudly South African boerewors rolls, fruit and refreshments where served.

Councillor Frans Moloko, Parker Harrier runners & families where singing with joy. They sang a Sotho song, “He Parker a le teng ha yo mathatha! He Parker a le teng ha yo mathatha!” If Parker is here there is no problem. Councillor Frans Moloko proceeded to thank Parker for the clubhouse. This gift and the level of generosity thereof is a reflection of a company that values their community and customers.

Making a difference

The Parker Care Initiative focus on local community support making a difference in the lives of Parker employees and the communities we call home. The Parker Harriers runners have become a big part of the Parker family and we look forward to celebrating their growth and achievements.

Lukas Mashilo, Coach of Parker Harriers Running Club

“Thank you to Parker for believing in our running club. This clubhouse will help us so much. There is nothing better than seeing the positive impact the running has on the runners and their families. This running club is also a platform where the community can socially interact bringing the community together. With this clubhouse we also have our own central point to meet for training.”

Lylian Kgatla, Human Resources Manager, PHSA

“The Parker Harriers Running Club has had a real positive impact on the employees of Parker. A recent study (Doing Good is Good for You: 2013 Health and Volunteering Study) revealed that there are four key benefits of volunteering that has a real, measurable impact on a person’s health including decrease in stress levels. We are grateful to be part of this journey.” 

This was a wonderful opportunity for the Parker staff to engage with the runners and their community and build long standing relationships

Parker supports programs for ethics, diversity, equal opportunity, inclusion and charitable contributions. Parker’s success is the result of building a culture of doing more than just obeying the law. Employees and suppliers are held accountable to a Code of Conduct that represents our commitment to do what is right, and to act honestly and with integrity.

Additional articles on Parker's commitment to communities:

Parker South Africa Donates Water Dispensers to Local Non-Profits

Sales Company Norway's Charity Bicycle Ride

Parker Hannifin Walks for Water in 2014