Partnership with Purpose: The White Lodge Story

At Friday’s club gathering, Anne and Frederik van den Bergh offered members a meaningful and inspiring update on the progress of the White Lodge Trust — a journey that reflects not only vision and commitment, but the true spirit of partnership in action.

As introduced on the day, Anne and Frederik are not individuals who seek the spotlight. Their work is intentional, values-driven, and grounded in long-term impact. “Some people talk about service. Anne and Frederik live it.” What began as a simple conversation during a previous Rotary year has steadily evolved into a structured, sustainable initiative — one that is now positioning itself as a legacy project.

The story of the White Lodge Trust is rooted in purpose. Since acquiring White Lodge in Constantia in 2012 as a social project, Anne and Frederik have focused on creating stability — for staff, their families, and the broader community. Over time, this has meant navigating complex challenges, from operational realities to the impact of COVID-19, while continuing to invest in infrastructure, compliance, and team wellbeing. The result is a business that has transitioned from loss to profitability, without losing sight of its social intent.

The establishment of the White Lodge Trust marks a significant milestone in this journey. By transferring shares and associated shareholder loans into an irrevocable trust structure, Anne and Frederik have ensured that future income generated will be directed exclusively towards social impact initiatives. Importantly, this model protects both the sustainability of the business and the livelihoods it supports, as distributions remain linked to financial stability.

For the Rotary Club, this development represents far more than a project update — it signals the deepening of a quality partnership under the banner Unite for Good. The alignment between the Trust’s objectives and Rotary’s areas of focus is clear: community economic development, education and literacy, health, environment, and peacebuilding. This shared vision creates a powerful platform for collaboration.

The partnership also strengthens the club’s long-term sustainability. Through the Trust, there is now an opportunity to co-fund projects, including Global Grants, and to extend the reach and impact of initiatives already underway. The recent support for the Read4Life campaign is one such example — demonstrating how collaborative funding can accelerate outcomes and deepen community impact.

What stands out most is the intentionality behind this model. The White Lodge Trust is not designed for short-term gain, but for enduring impact. It reflects a shift towards thinking differently about how Rotary clubs can build sustainable funding mechanisms, leverage international partnerships, and remain relevant in an evolving social landscape.

As members listened to the update, it was clear that this is a partnership built on trust, shared values, and mutual learning. It is also a reminder that meaningful change often starts with a conversation — and grows through commitment, collaboration, and a willingness to act.

Anne and Frederik’s journey with the White Lodge Trust is a powerful example of what is possible when we truly Unite for Good.

Nothing beats an in person meeting when it comes to enjoying fellowship, sharing a meal and “catch up” time with fellow crew. This week was super special as we welcomed Anne and Frederik van den Bergh, long-standing friends of Waterfront Rotary, all the way from Switzerland. We also warmly welcomed back Janice Halliford, her first meeting after compassionate leave of some months.

Above left: WHL Trustees Nadene Rolston and Janet Kriseman with Frederik, Anne van den Bergh and Mymoena Ismail. Right: Michelle Page (Internatonal Hotel School), Lucy Leonard (Service Guru). Michelle Whitehead and Kim Botti. We learnt that the International Hotel School in Johannesburg has been recognised as the only hospitality & culinary school in Africa ranked among the top 50 in the world — a testament to our world-class, industry-driven education! 👏👏👏