Our story
Where one gifting heart sparked a movement.
Sometimes, something extraordinary begins with something remarkably simple. For Hart Van Aardt, it began with a charitable purchase of a weekend away, a round of golf, and one person’s belief that an opportunity to give should never be wasted.
The story began when Van Aardt Cloete, founder of Hart Van Aardt, attended a charity golf day and purchased a weekend getaway in support of the cause. What could simply have been enjoyed as a well-earned weekend away soon became something much more.
He realised the weekend could be used as the catalyst for another event — one that could bring together friends, colleagues and like-minded individuals, not only to enjoy a day of golf, but to rally around a shared purpose: helping people in need. That idea became the first Hart Van Aardt Charity Golf Day, hosted in April 2025.
The first Hart Van Aardt Cup
What began as a simple idea brought together a small group of people with a heart for others. Spearheaded by Van Aardt, the group gathered for a day built around friendship, generosity and a little healthy competition. Two teams faced one another on the golf course, competing for what would become known as the Hart Van Aardt Cup.
But the real victory had very little to do with the scorecard. That first golf day showed what becomes possible when one person’s willingness to give inspires others to do the same. More importantly, it revealed that Hart Van Aardt had the potential to become something far greater than a single event.
From a golf day to a foundation
The momentum created in 2025 inspired the formal establishment of Hart Van Aardt as a non-profit organisation. A management structure was put in place, with dedicated people taking responsibility for identifying genuine needs, allocating resources responsibly and executing charitable projects capable of making a meaningful difference.
In doing so, Hart Van Aardt evolved from an act of individual generosity into a collective commitment to giving. At the heart of that journey remains the original vision: to give wherever possible, to use what is available, and to inspire the people around us to do the same.
What started with one purchased weekend became a golf day. That golf day brought together a small group of people. Those people became a community, and that community became a foundation.
Changing one moment at a time
Hart Van Aardt recognises that no charitable organisation can change every circumstance in a person’s life. But it can change a moment. It can provide support when someone needs it most, create an opportunity where there was none, bring relief during a difficult season, restore dignity, offer hope, or simply remind someone that they have not been forgotten.
That philosophy has become the heartbeat of Hart Van Aardt.
