Yes, in fact we encourage you to write to your sponsored athlete. Writing shows that you care about them and want to encourage their development.

The best way to communicate with your sponsored athlete is to send a digital message through our website (www.crossfitmasi.com/athlete-sponsor). We encourage you to build a relationship that will help support and encourage your sponsored athlete inside and outside the gym. 

You can write a physical letter and send it through the mail, however mail delivery is not always reliable in South Africa and can take quite a long time to deliver from overseas.

We encourage sponsors to write to their athletes using digital message through our website, as we can ensure those messages will get to your sponsored athlete. Sending letters through the postal service can take a very long time, and letters often don’t make it to us. If you choose to mail a letter, you may use the mailing address below.  

CrossFit Masiphumelele 
(Athlete’s name) 
10 Wildevoelvlei Road 
Unit 54, Heron Park 3 
Kommetjie, WC 7975 

When writing a letter or message to your sponsored athlete, our hope is that you build an authentic relationship that will be supportive and encouraging to them. We have also witnessed countless examples of sponsors also being greatly encouraged and impacted through their relationship with their sponsored athlete. 

While we are hopeful for a positive relationship to be built, the safety of the children, teens, and young adults in our program is of upmost priority. With that being said, we do ask that you read through the guidelines below and consider them in any communication with your sponsored athlete. 

DO: 
- Share words of encouragement that will build the athlete up mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. 
- Share things that will help them get to know you better. Examples include describing members of your family, favorite books/hobbies/workouts, talk about your relationship with Jesus, what you do at work, a general description of where you live, the climate you live in, etc. 
– Ask your sponsored athlete questions to get to know them better. Examples include asking what they like to do in school, what their favorite activities/workouts are, where they live, what their family is like, etc. 
– We encourage you to write often and write clearly in simple sentences. 

DO NOT: 
– Please do not include any personal contact information such as your mailing address, email address, phone number, or social media accounts. 
– Please do not ask for your sponsored athlete’s personal contact information such as home mailing address, email address, phone number, or social media accounts. 
– Please do not share pictures that include material possessions such as cars, home, electronics, toys, etc. It is best to keep a neutral background if possible. 
– Please avoid making statements such as, “I hope to meet you one day.” This could create disappointment if you aren’t able to follow through. 
– Please do not use slang or cultural references that may not be understood outside of your country’s culture. Jokes and humor rarely translate well. 

Yes! If you will be traveling to Cape Town’s South Peninsula and would like to arrange to meet him/her, please contact us at sponsorship@shadetree.foundation at least one month in advance to make arrangements. If you are traveling with a short-term mission team, please be sure to work with your team leader to plan time for meeting with your athlete. Although there are circumstances that may arise, our team will make every effort for you to meet your sponsored athlete. 

We encourage sponsored athletes to write to you, but we do not require it. We ask our sponsored athletes to send you a letter at least once a year to keep you updated on their life. Our operations team will ensure you receive an athlete update at least once per year to keep you informed about your sponsored athlete, in addition to sending community updates three times each year. Additionally, our operations team will inform you of any significant events that take place in your sponsored athlete’s life. We highly encourage responding and staying in communication with your sponsored athlete via mail or email. Please keep in mind that athletes may not necessarily respond to every physical letter that is sent to them from their sponsor. 

If you are considering sending a gift, we ask that you also send a letter with the gift. Although the gift alone can be a great blessing, the relationship built is often more important than the gift, as it strengthens the relationship between you and your athlete. 

If you choose to send a small gift, please use a 6”x9” or smaller envelope and avoid sending more than two at a time. It’s important to note that sending large packages or extravagant gifts to your sponsored athlete can create an unhealthy dependency on handouts. Please refrain from wrapping your gifts inside the envelope, as they will be unwrapped before delivery. Also, keep in mind cultural differences and avoid sending cards or gifts related to holidays not celebrated in South Africa, such as Thanksgiving and Halloween. 

While we do our best to deliver all items as quickly as possible, we cannot guarantee that they will reach the athlete. Allow 6-8 weeks for your correspondence to reach your athlete. During the Christmas season, it may take a bit longer, so please send Christmas correspondence by the end of August. Please refrain from asking your athlete if they received previous gifts or letters. You should receive a thank-you note from your athlete for each gift you send, but it may take up to six months for the note to reach you. 

When sending gifts, please put them in a 6”x9” or smaller envelope with your athlete’s first and surname name on it, and then into a second 7”x10” or smaller envelope with the CrossFit Masi address. Please do not send envelopes larger than 7”x10”, as packages that appear valuable may be held in customs until a fee is paid, which is not feasible for our program to pay.

Please follow ALL of these steps when sending items: 

1. Put all items in an envelope that is 6”x9” or smaller. 
2. Write the athlete’s full name on the outside of the envelope. Do not include a return address. 
3. Put the first envelope into a second one that is 7”x10” or smaller, or wrap the first envelope in shipping paper. 
4. Write the CrossFit Masi mailing address on the outer envelope or layer of shipping paper. Include a return address on this layer, which will be removed by our staff and not given to your athlete. This step will keep your contact information private. 
5. Check with the post office for accurate weight and international postage rates. Do not send as priority, express, certified, or flat rate. 
6. If you must fill out a customs form, indicate that the contents are of minimal value, a few dollars at most. 

Please do not send letters or gifts to Shade Tree Foundation’s US Office, they will not be delivered to South Africa. 

Yes, we do ask that you use discretion when sending photos and only send photos with a modest background. We ask that you do not include material items such as cars, your home, toys, or other possessions that may depict wealth. Avoid wearing swimsuits or revealing clothing in your photos. In short, be sensitive to the environment in which your sponsored athlete lives. 

No, we ask that you do not send a monetary gift directly to your sponsored athlete. Although we deeply appreciate your generosity, please note that giving money directly to people living in poverty reinforces a “handout” mentality and can lead to asking/begging for money in order to survive. While handouts may be of some help in the short term, they can create a dependency mindset and do not contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty. Our goal is to educate those living in impoverished areas and assist them in building the skills necessary to find employment and learn how to provide for themselves. 

We suggest family pictures, colored pencils, pens, small notepads, small thin devotional books, bibles, socks, sweat bands, headbands, or small hygiene products. Stickers or patches from your CrossFit gym are also fun for the athletes to receive. 

Please know that any and every gift given to your sponsored athlete is a great blessing to them and their family. We ask that you do not ask your sponsored athlete for suggestions on what they would like you to send them. This ensures that your relationship can remain in a positive light in your athlete’s life and avoids creating a dependency on your generous gifts. 

We ask that you do not send items that depict snakes, spiders, skulls, skeletons, bones, snails, frogs, owls, or scorpions. Please also refrain from sending stick-on tattoos of any kind. These items can symbolize inappropriate things in some cultures. 

Please do not send checks, cash, or personal contact information (email address, home address, phone number or social media accounts). 

Please do not send food or candy. Food attracts rodents that may get to your package before your athlete does. 

The amount of time it takes for your sponsored athlete to receive the gift or message you sent can vary. The delivery time will depend on how the message or gift was sent, where your sponsored athlete is in school, what extracurricular activities they attend, as well as where they are in the school year. This can range from 15 business days to 3 months. 

All messages and gifts sent by mail may take 3-6 months to be delivered. Messages and gifts sent by mail around Christmas time will tend to lean towards the 6-month mark. Please note that following our guidelines on how to send a letter or gift by mail will help increase the delivery of the package.  

We do not recommend sending anything larger than what fits inside of a 6”x9” envelope. Items that are large, heavy, or appear to be expensive have a greater chance of being held in customs. Items held in customs are charged a tax or fee before they can be retrieved. We are not able to pay these fees, so any package held there will likely never reach your athlete. Based on feedback and the experience of our local team, we have determined that envelopes that are 6”x9” or smaller have the best chance of being delivered to your athlete. 

We do understand that shipping costs can add up and it can be difficult to fit items in a 6”x9” envelope. If you would like to explore other gifting opportunities, we do have gifts available to purchase through the shop in the gym, such as tee shirts, jerseys, wrist wraps, grips, Revive electrolytes, and thumb tape. These are items sourced from South Africa, some of which are made locally by other members, and are delivered directly to your sponsored athlete. We can help make recommendations for items your sponsored athlete may need, so that you can be sure they will be beneficial items for your sponsored athlete to receive. 

In order to best serve the athletes in our program, we maintain a gym shop that contains items that fill specific needs in our gym community. Gifts available to purchase through the gym shop include tee shirts, jerseys, wrist wraps, grips, Revive electrolytes, and thumb tape. These are items sourced from South Africa, some of which are made locally by other members, and are delivered directly to your sponsored athlete. We can help make recommendations for items your sponsored athlete may need, so that you can be sure they will be beneficial items for your sponsored athlete to receive.  To contact us for recommendations for items your sponsored athlete may need, please email sponsorship@shadetree.foundation.

We are deeply thankful for your desire to support your sponsored athlete by purchasing a gift for them from our gym shop. Please contact our Operations Team at sponsorship@shadetree.foundation for recommendations of items available through the gym shop that would benefit your sponsored athlete. Our team will provide options and prices for you to review via email. After you confirm your selection(s), you’ll receive an invoice by email, and once that invoice is paid, our local operations team will safely deliver the gift to your sponsored athlete.

We deeply appreciate your willingness to give a special gift to your sponsored athlete to help them celebrate their birthday. The amount of time it takes for your sponsored athlete to receive the birthday gift you send can vary. The delivery time will depend on how the message or gift was sent, where your sponsored athlete is in school, what extracurricular activities they attend, as well as where they are in the school year. This can range from 15 business days to 3 months. 

All gifts sent by mail may take 3-6 months to be delivered. Please note that following our guidelines below on how to send a letter or gift by mail will help increase the delivery of the package.

When sending gifts, please put them in a 6”x9” or smaller envelope with your athlete’s first and surname name on it, and then into a second 7”x10” or smaller envelope with the CrossFit Masi address. Please do not send envelopes larger than 7”x10”, as packages that appear valuable may be held in customs until a fee is paid, which is not feasible for our program to pay.

Please follow ALL of these steps when sending items: 

1. Put all items in an envelope that is 6”x9” or smaller. 
2. Write the athlete’s full name on the outside of the envelope. Do not include a return address. 
3. Put the first envelope into a second one that is 7”x10” or smaller, or wrap the first envelope in shipping paper. 
4. Write the CrossFit Masi mailing address on the outer envelope or layer of shipping paper. Include a return address on this layer, which will be removed by our staff and not given to your athlete. This step will keep your contact information private. 
5. Check with the post office for accurate weight and international postage rates. Do not send as priority, express, certified, or flat rate. 
6. If you must fill out a customs form, indicate that the contents are of minimal value, a few dollars at most. 

Please do not send letters or gifts to Shade Tree Foundation’s US Office, they will not be delivered to South Africa.  

During Christmas time, there is a high volume of gifts being sent across the world which can result in delays in delivering your sponsored athlete’s Christmas gifts. To ensure that your gift or message arrives on or near Christmas day, kindly send all letters or gifts through the mail before August 31st and email messages and gifts from the CrossFit Masi Gym Shop before October 31st. 

Yes, you will be notified when your message or gift is delivered to your sponsored athlete. We encourage athletes to send a handwritten thank you note via mail for all gifts sent by their sponsor. However, we will never force an athlete to write to their sponsor. If the athlete will not, our Operations team will notify you that your gift has been delivered. Because of delivery times and processing, it may take up to 6 months before you receive a thank you note for the gift you sent. 

We understand that receiving a letter or message from your sponsored athlete is a treasured part of your sponsorship experience, and we work very hard with our athletes to facilitate that communication. We encourage sponsored athletes to write at least one letter to their sponsor each year, sharing about their family, school, and experiences they have had. As a sponsor, you are able to send digital messages and/or physical letters to your athlete at any time, which they will respond to with a thank you note that is sent to you via mail. Please note that this process can take several months due to the mailing system in South Africa and the length of time packages take to be received by our local team. We ask that you keep in mind that response times may also be dependent on your sponsored athlete’s personal situation and school break schedule. 

Updates on athletes in our program may come about in different ways. If there is a major life event or change in your sponsored athlete’s life, our operations team will be sure to contact you with that update. General community updates are released by email, you will receive two community updates a year. You are also able to communicate with your sponsored athlete by digital message or physical mail.

As always, you do have the ability to send physical mail directly to your sponsored athlete. However, as you may know, you also have the capability of sending a digital message through our website. Outside of the above listed means of communicating and sharing updates, if you would like to receive a more specific update on the athlete you sponsor you are welcome to contact our Operations Team at sponsorship@shadetree.foundation. 

For any questions related to sponsorship or a donation, you can reach a member of our team by sending an email to sponsorship@shadetree.foundation and a member of our team will respond as quickly as possible. To submit a request through our website, please visit our contact us page. 

No. Athletes or their families are not required to be Christians or to become Christians in order to be a part of our program. However, as part of our mission to share Jesus with each person we interact with, athletes will participate in Christian-based discussions and activities. Our hope is that through our program, and access to a local church, our athletes do come to know Jesus and build a personal relationship with Him. 

Sponsoring an athlete is $40 per month. However, we are happy to accept donations of other amounts – whether you want to co-sponsor an athlete with another person/family or contribute to the Equipment Fund, the Compassion Fund, or the Event/Competition and Training Registration Fund, donations of any amount are welcome and appreciated. 

No part of your athlete sponsorship is used for administrative expenses. 100% of the funds goes toward providing and maintaining safe program facilities and equipment, spiritual development, nutritious meals, and covering the cost of your athlete’s personal gear, which may include shoes, shorts, tees and sweatshirts. 

Sponsored athletes benefit by having access to safe program facilities and equipment, spiritual development, professional physical fitness and health coaching, and nutritious meals. They also receive personal items which may include bibles, shoes, shorts, tees and sweatshirts. Sponsored athletes also have the opportunity to participate in outreach and community service within their own communities and in other impoverished areas in South Africa. Job and life skills training is also part of the L327 program and sponsorship helps to cover the cost of external training programs and event registrations.

An athlete can have only one sponsoring person, couple, or family. We do, however, allow relatives or small groups, and CrossFit gyms to collectively sponsor an athlete.  

You will receive a community update by email three times per year. Community updates are general updates that are sent out about L327 Fitness and our CrossFit Masi community, where you’ll learn more about the world your sponsored athlete is part of. You will also receive updates about your sponsored athlete regarding major life changes, progress in school, the gym, and extracurricular activities, or any other update that may come along.

Additionally, we encourage your sponsored athlete write to you at least once a year to let you know what is going on in his or her life. You will receive these letters via email and/or physical mail. 

You do have the opportunity to communicate directly with the child you sponsor by digital message through our website. This is a great way to communicate more frequently with your sponsored athlete. 

Due to cultural differences, family issues, illness and harsh living conditions, athletes may stop attending the program, possibly even without warning. While we hope that your sponsored athlete remains in the program until he or she is ready to live independently and support themselves financially, we can’t promise that your relationship with one particular athlete will be able to continue indefinitely. We can promise, however, that your sponsorship plants a seed of hope and faith in the heart of your athlete whether they attend the program for three months or for years. And if your sponsored athlete leaves the program for any reason, we will let you know that information as soon as possible and immediately connect you with a new athlete so you can continue to participate in the growth and health of a young person from our community. 

Our team makes every effort to return an athlete to the program if they stop attending for any reason. We give athletes a three-month grace period if they stop attending the program. During this time, our coaches and program managers are doing everything possible to get the athlete back in the program. During the time that an athlete is not attending, your donations continue to go toward covering the costs for those in the program. If the athlete doesn’t return after three months, we officially remove them from the program and connect you with another athlete in need of sponsorship. 

Once he or she has committed to the L327 program, an athlete can remain in the program even after graduating from high school, as long as they continue to remain drug free, attend training sessions at least three times a week, and participate in local outreach/community service activities and job skills development.   An athlete is eligible for sponsorship as long as they remain a part of the program. 

Upon completing their high school education, athletes are eligible for job skills development through the gym, training which has been created to help prepare them for their next step in life. Some athletes may already have jobs lined up and a few may even pursue ongoing education. All of these athletes are still able to participate in the program and are still eligible for sponsorship.  

We will notify you at the beginning of your sponsored athlete’s final year in high school so that you are able to send gifts, messages, and letters to them. If your athlete has the ability to join a university outside our local community, we can facilitate your donations to help cover some of the cost of their general higher education if you choose to do so. This is an incredible way to continue supporting your athlete even though they are not training regularly in our program. 

We are so proud of our athletes who reach the incredible accomplishment of graduating high school, however, that is not the end of their journey with our program. Upon completing their high school education, your sponsored athlete has the option to take part in our job skills training program which has been created to help prepare them for their next step in life. They will still be eligible for sponsorship during this time.  

If your sponsored athlete chooses to be finished with their education upon high school graduation and chooses not to remain in our program by continuing with job skills training, taking a job, or going to university, we will no longer facilitate 1-1 sponsorship between you and your athlete. We know that it can be very difficult to say goodbye to someone you have supported through many seasons, and we are so thankful for your long-term and constant support. Once we have processed their completion, unless otherwise instructed, we will notify you via physical mail and connect you with a new athlete to begin sponsoring and supporting in the same way as you have. 

Church partnerships play a very important role in the outreach we are able to provide. There are a couple of different ways to help get your church involved with Shade Tree Foundation and CrossFit Masiphumelele. Conducting an Athlete Sponsorship Event is a great way to provide a place for anyone at your church to sponsor an athlete and immediately begin impacting the mission on the ground in South Africa. We provide all of the necessary materials and help to ensure you have a way for each member to get involved. If you are interested in hosting an event, please email us at sponsorship@shadetree.foundation. Additionally, taking a vision or mission trip to South Africa creates an amazing opportunity for you to see how God has been moving within our community as well as guide you and your church to a specific need that speaks to the mission of your congregation. If you are interested in coordinating a trip to visit CrossFit Masiphumelele in South Africa, please reach out to us at sponsorship@shadetree.foundation. 

CrossFit gym partnerships play a very important role in the outreach we are able to provide. There are several different ways to help get your box involved with Shade Tree Foundation and CrossFit Masiphumelele.  

Your box might consider committing $1 for each member each month to support the L327 Program general fund. These funds are used to cover event registration fees for athletes who wish to compete in local events; to purchase equipment for the program - such as weighted vests or new jump ropes – above and beyond the standard equipment supplied by athlete sponsorship; to cover travel costs and supplies for community service projects; or help cover the costs for our year end party. 

Conducting an Athlete Sponsorship Event is a great way to provide a place for anyone at your gym to sponsor an athlete and immediately begin impacting the outreach we provide here in South Africa. We provide all of the necessary materials and help to ensure you have a way for each member to get involved. If you are interested in hosting an event, please email us at sponsorship@shadetree.foundation.

Additionally, taking a vision or mission trip to South Africa creates an amazing opportunity for you to see the impact that CrossFit is making within our community as well as guide you and your gym to a specific need that speaks to the mission of your gym community. If you are interested in coordinating a trip to visit CrossFit Masiphumelele in South Africa, please reach out to us at sponsorship@shadetree.foundation. 

Of course, your CrossFit box is also welcome to sponsor an athlete. We’ll even share with you a custom WOD in honor of your sponsored athlete. Your box might schedule this WOD as a special workout on your athlete’s birthday, an annual fundraiser for your sponsored athlete, or simply include it in your regular programming. 

We recognize that circumstances can change and you may need to cancel or temporarily pause your sponsorship. To do so, please contact our US office by mail (Shade Tree Foundation, 1427 Catalina Ridge, Mesquite, NV 89027) or email us at sponsorship@shadetree.foundation. Please include your full name, as well as your sponsored athlete’s name in the communication. 

To update your recurring donation information, please email sponsorship@shadetree.foundation.

You will receive your Year End Giving Statement by January 31st for the previous year’s donations. You will receive your statement by email. It is important to ensure your contact information is kept up to date in order to receive your statement in a timely manner. 

To obtain a year-to-date Giving Statement, please email sponsorship@shadetree.foundation and include your full name and the date range for the statement you ‘d like. Your statement will be sent via email within 2 weeks. 

To update your mailing address, please email sponsorship@shadetree.foundation.

To modify your recurring donation withdrawal day, please email sponsorship@shadetree.foundation.

Yes, you have the option to modify the way you make donations at any time. You can choose to donate through credit card, EFT, check, bill pay, charitable foundation, or IRA. If you wish to alter your giving method, kindly contact us at sponsorship@shadetree.foundation.

To update your contact information, please email sponsorship@shadetree.foundation.