The 2010 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival that took place in July this year raised R1,13 million for local charities and non profit organisations.

Knysna Tourism CEO, Shaun van Eck, said that they were delighted. "The Festival took place during the last ten days of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, so we expected that attendance numbers would be down. Not only was attendance on par with last year, but the charity amount raised is also on par with last year."

He said the good attendance despite strong competition from the World Cup shows that the Festival is a popular and a strong brand within the South African market. "This was the 27th festival - we had more than 100 events on the programme during the ten days, and it created over R32 million in media coverage for the Knysna area."

The biggest contributors towards the charity amount was the Pick n Pay Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour that raised R500 000 over two days, and the Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Forest marathon and Half Marathon that raised just over R217 000. Some of the charities that will benefit include Child Welfare, Animal Welfare, Vermont Old Age Home, Dorothy Broster Children's Home, Knysna Education Trust, the Knysna Alcohol and Drug Centre and Hospice.

The main sponsor, Pick n Pay, renewed their sponsorship in 2009 for another five years. Jonathan Ackerman, Marketing Manager of Pick n Pay, said that the Oyster Festival presents the values that Pick and Pay stands for. "The programme is filled with sport and other events that not only promote a healthy lifestyle, but also family time together. The amount raised for charity is fantastic and I want to congratulate all involved in the Festival for their contribution. At Pick n Pay we believe doing good is doing well, and this is a perfect example of that philosophy."

This is the second five year term that Pick n Pay will be involved with the Festival, and it has grown on all levels since their involvement. Van Eck said that they have also added a number of additional sponsors over the last 6 years. "The sponsorship contribution has grown considerably, e.g. the sponsors involved in last year's festival were Heineken, Tabasco, Independent Newspapers, CTRU, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport and Distell. It is this support which helps us to raise a significant charity amount and to truly make a difference in our local community."

"The Festival was created all those years ago to boost the local economy during a historically quiet period. It certainly does that, but it has evolved into so much more and the benefit of it to Knysna and its residents is invaluable," said van Eck.

The 2011 Festival will take place from the 1st to the 10th of July.