On January 3rd, famed restaurateur Peter Balliere who also happens to be my neighbor wrote to me the following: “After one week of seeing all these images on TV, I cannot bear it any longer and decided to start something, hopefully it will grow. On Saturday we will have a collection at all the supermarkets on the island. I went talking to them and most of them agreed! I hope we’ll have enough people to also cover the gas stations and important cross roads,” he added.
It took about a week for the nations of the world to comprehend the extent of the disaster in south-Asia. This is a long-term drama. Indonesia is building refugee camps for the displaced; Kofi Annan pleads for international aid at a disaster summit. Then naturally Aruba being an island, we all felt we had to lend a helping hand to a fellow-nation in distress.
The idea is to create numerous modest giving opportunities during the next five days and we hope that you will be generous. Aruba, a small island with a heart of gold, will surely dig into its pockets. The goal? To collect Afls 130.000, a florin for each Aruban living here on the island.
Aruba Help Tsunami Victims
At yesterday’s press conference the grass root movement Aruba Help Tsunami took off. Aruba Bank was the host of the conference. The bank opened an account 261204, reflective of the disaster date and it will assist in the collection of donations. Aruba Bank will also encourage all of its employees to participate. The bank generous sprang for volunteer tee-shirts which were designed by Errol and printed at ANLY. Thanks Interprint for the strong poster!
SUPERMARKET FUND DRIVE
Volunteers for Aruba Help Tsunami Victims will be positioned at all major food stores Saturday. Scheduled on two-hour shifts they will appeal to shoppers at Ling & Sons Super Center, Super Foods, Certified Groceries and Kong Hing supermarket. Balliere also aspires to fill the ranks of volunteers on Sunday. If you have time call him #730-0288
AIRPORT COLLECTION
Volunteers will also cover the Aruba airport as part of the fund raising drive. AAA just granted permission to fund-raise. Pinchos Bar & Restaurant will be sending its people that way.
HYATT CAR WASH
The Hyatt Regency is organizing a car wash on Saturday, January 8th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency parking lot. "Bring us your dirty and dusty cars," says director of human resources Stacy Brown, "and we'll give them back sparkling, in the name of the Tsunami victims in south Asia." Beverages will also be available for sale while managers and employees wash vehicles. All proceeds of the day will go to the Red Cross Tsunami relief fund. In addition, employees are donating money directly to Red Cross through a Collections-box at the department of Human Resources. “Nations of the world must share in the efforts to rebuild the severely affected areas in south Asia," Brown concludes. The car wash cost is 15 florins for small cars and 20 florins for large vehicles. Incidentally, several local food and beverage purveyors have graciously donated product and 100% of the proceeds that day will be donated. .
IDERFE ORGANIZES A FUNDRAISER WALK
The islands local sports authority, IDEFRE, organizes a fundraising walk on Tuesday at 5:30pm. The walkathon kicks off at Tony Roma’s restaurant. The route goes to the Divi Phoenix, then wraps around and returns on the beach. Inscription is just Afls 10, and an Aruba Help Tsunami tee-shirt is included. Divi Resorts will put up a refreshment stand, says Managing Director Alex Niemeyer, on the beach to support those who walk for charity.
HAVANA HAPPENING
A large happening is also being organized by Vibration Promotions, former Miss Aruba Karen Ann Peterson and her business partner Maria Silva. It takes place on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 at Club Havana, at the Surfside. The club was donated by owners Harrie Koeman for the night. Local retailers were invited to participate as well as the local restaurants. Browse, eat, drink, and dance for charity, from 7-10pm. All collected funds will go to Aruba Help Tsunami fund. De Palm Tours is providing round trip free transportations to hotel guests wishing to participate. Publisher turned auctioneer Douglas Markus will auction various items including works of art by famous local artists Stan Kuiperi and Eliza Lejuez. Channel 15 ATV will broadcast a live TV show from the Havana location. Riba Boa with Ruben Garcia will televise the donations of checks to a local notary who in turn will forward the funds to UNICEF. After 10 p.m. the club will open to live dance music. A popular local band ironically called Tsunami, donated its time. It will entertain party-goers in conjunction with hot local DJs.
ARUBA BANK
Aruba Bank was quick to respond too, and opened a bank account with the number 261204 which incidentally is the date on which the disaster took place in South Asia.
CARIBBEAN MERCANTILE BANK
The bank just opened an account 242 371 05 UNICEF RELIEF FUND – TSUNAMI, reports managing Director Javier Walter.
WYNDHAM RESORT KARAOKE
The staff of the Wyndham Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino love Karaoke. Early next week, everyone will join together to sing their hearts out in the name of the Tsunami fund drive. Each participant and spectator will be asked to make a donation at the entrance in which all proceeds will go directly to Aruba’s Help Tsunami Victims.
DIGICEL
Digicel has just opened a number where you can send a message with the text "help"!
Dial #3863! For every message they receive, Digicel will donate 1 florin to Aruba Help Tsunami victims!
GRASSROOT FUNDRAISING
Flora Market dedicates its proceeds on Sunday to Aruba Help Tsunami. Playa Linda Beach Resort, Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino and La Cabana All Suites Beach Resort are conducting in-house drives. De Palm Tours and Western Union are committing funds. CATC Accounting is delivering a check. Pinchos and bartender Diablo are creating at event at the bar. T.H. Palm & Company is dedicating some proceeds of next Tuesday’s sale to Aruba Helps Tsunami.
VACATION AUCTIONED ON E-BAY
In addition to the many commendable individual donation drives the members of AHATA are sponsoring three (3) Vacation stays to be auctioned on E-Bay. All proceeds from that auction, says Margarita Para Muselli, AHATA representative, will go to UNICEF via Aruba Help Tsunami Victims. The hotels are offering three complimentary seven (7) night stays for two. Validity dates will be May 01 - December 15, 2005.
