We said Thanks a Million for choosing us by giving away millions

We wanted to reward our customers for simply being, well, our customers. So, we launched our Thanks a Million campaign in 2016 and gave Absa customers a chance to win their share of R20 million. All they had to do was have their salary paid into their transactional account and use their Absa card to make payments or online purchases.

We also promised to match our winners’ prize earnings and donate the same amount to people or organisations in need. Today, we’re ecstatic to announce that our 70 winners, plus 70 nominated beneficiaries, were awarded a total of R12 250 000 in prize money. Here are some of our winners’ stories.

One of our winners, Myra Pretorius, won a grand total of R120 000 and nominated the SPCA in Welkom as her chosen charity. The organisation serves a large area and was on the verge of closing down last year due to financial constraints. In 2016 alone, they took in 1 690 dogs and 982 cats. This donation will go a long way in keeping SPCA Welkom’s doors open to service their community.

David Alexander won R80 000 and opted to pay it forward to Die Ligdraertjie Day Care Centre in George. The centre caters for underprivileged children whose parents are unemployed or unable to work. Thanks to David and Absa Thanks a Million, the centre can now repair and upgrade the children’s play area and add two new classrooms to their school.

Marcia Mohlala found one of our three R1 million envelopes and won a total of R1 020 000. Another instant millionaire was born when she nominated Oomatla Mongake to receive the same amount. Oomatla’s windfall will be going towards an electric wheelchair for her husband, settling her bond and paying her daughter’s school fees.

Oeboentoe House received R80 000 after winner, Henk Lamberts, nominated them as a worthy beneficiary. The organisation has been sheltering and caring for neglected infants and children up to the age of 17, since 1994. Their well-deserved prize money will be going towards tertiary education for two young ladies who grew up at Oeboentoe House.

And lastly, Danie Cornelius, who won a total of R150 000, chose Dream Caps to win the same amount. Dream Caps is a project aimed at supporting underprivileged student athletes who are elite performers. These performers must often travel abroad to gain exposure and experience, and to compete in world-class sporting events. Through Dream Caps, TuksSport and the University of Pretoria, student athletes are able to study and train due to having the financial support they need. The prize money will go a long way in assisting Dream Caps’ talented beneficiaries.

These lucky men and women not only get to live their dreams through Absa Thanks a Million, they also get to pay it forward and change the lives of those in need. Thanks to everyone who used their Absa account to enter. When one person prospers, we all do.