Critically ill and premature infants and their families in South Africa are receiving much-needed support thanks to a charitable donation from an Indianapolis-based, family-owned business.
Pinnacle Equipment Company, a locally owned HVAC business, made the donation to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Psi Tau Omega Chapter, supporting families at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. The donation enabled the assembly and delivery of NICU care packages to parents whose infants are receiving treatment in the hospital’s Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units.
Pinnacle Equipment founders Andre and Shelley Jones said their previous visit to South Africa inspired the donation.
“Our visit to South Africa made a lasting impression on us, and we knew we wanted to give back,” the Joneses said. “Supporting communities where the need is greatest is simply part of who we are at Pinnacle.”
The donation supported the distribution of 25 care packages on Dec. 18, 2025. Each package included essential baby items, hygiene supplies, and affirmation cards. Mothers staying at the hospital’s Mother Lodger Facility while their babies receive care were also supported. In addition, a tree was planted in honor of each child through One Tree Planted, symbolizing life, hope and growth.
Founded in 1890, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, often referred to as Joburg Gen, is one of South Africa’s oldest public hospitals and serves thousands of low-income and high-risk families each year.
“On behalf of the Neonatal Unit at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, I extend our sincere gratitude to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for their kindness and generosity,” said Professor Tanusha Ramdin, Head of the Neonatal Unit. “Your thoughtful support has made the mothers of our most vulnerable and tiny babies feel seen, valued, and strengthened during an incredibly challenging time. Your compassion reminds them that they are not alone as they remain strong for their babies while in our care.”
The care packages were distributed by members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Psi Tau Omega Chapter, a Johannesburg-based chapter chartered in 2013 that works to empower families across South Africa through service initiatives.
“As members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, our service extends across regions and borders, guided by compassion and responsibility,” said soror Tandie Mpabanga-Nyathi, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Psi Tau Omega Chapter. “Through collaborative efforts like this, Psi Tau Omega remains committed to uplifting families, strengthening communities, and creating meaningful global impact where it is needed most.”
According to Tracy Swatts Whitfield, Empower Our Communities Chair for the Psi Tau Omega Chapter, the donation reflects the impact of local leadership connected to global service.
“This global gift has ensured that these courageous families are seen, loved and supported during an incredibly stressful time,” Whitfield said. “It lets them know they are not alone.”
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
