A former cricketer on a crusade to save South Africa's orphans raised R70-million in just one night for his cause.
And now Tich Smith - a wicketkeeper for Natal between 1971 and 1984 - is using the money to set up a village in KwaZulu-Natal where orphans and vulnerable children will be raised in a family environment.
The first 128 children and their guardians will have moved in by the end of March.
Smith, who turns 60 next month, said his crusade was sparked by a vision he had in 1997.
"God gave me a picture of an African village on a hill. I saw mothers talking, children playing. I saw a vegetable garden, a sports field, a skills centre and a church in the middle of the village," he said this week.
But it took him 10 years before he could start trying to turn the dream into reality - thanks to his business activities and the lack of suitable land.
In the interim, he became a benefactor in the region.
Today, Lungisisa Indlela, the Section 21 company he established at the time, pays for the schooling of 600 orphans, trains teachers and feeds around 1200 children in creches every day.
The name of his non-profit company means "prepare the way".
In 2007 Smith got cracking on his crusade. He bought a farm outside Verulam, about 45km from downtown Durban.
"We got architects and environmentalists involved and started the rezoning. It was thought everything would cost about R20-million but, as you have to consult different people, the cost went up to around R60-to R70-million."
Armed with a just cause and advocating transparency and accountability, Smith went knocking - and doors opened.
"We had a banquet and invited the KwaZulu-Natal government and members of the business community. We shared the vision and raised R70-million in one night," said Smith.
The money meant he could turn his dream into reality. And the concept was simple.
"In this village we'll have 120 houses in clusters of eight. It will be like the old rural communities," he said.
"We've trained 25 mothers as part of the initial roll out. By the end of March we will have the first two clusters, which are 16 houses with eight children in each house.
"We are hoping to have all the houses built and the school operational by the end of the year."
Two other top South African sportsmen are involved in the project. Former cricket captain Shaun Pollock has joined the marketing arm, while Springbok captain John Smit is funding the construction of a house in the village.
But Smith is not resting on his laurels. He has set himself an even bigger challenge - exporting the concept beyond KwaZulu-Natal's borders.
"The ball is rolling. We are negotiating for two neighbouring farms and we are looking to do the same in Gauteng. I've had a very positive meeting with Western Cape Premier Helen Zille. She is very keen to start a similar project there," he said.
But providing sanctuary for children who have been orphaned isn't Smith's only mission.
"I went to the KZN premier and asked: 'If I raise R25-million, will you give me R25-million so that we can start businesses that will help train and skill rural communities. The profits will sustain the businesses.'" The province's leader agreed.
"We've bought a flower growing and cutting business. The Section 21 company owns the Pty Ltd company 100%. It has become the most broad-based BEE company in the country because the only beneficiaries will be orphans and widows," the former cricketer said.
"My dream is to have 1000 villages to take care of every orphan and vulnerable child in this country."