Caribbean Day of Giving raises over US$40k for hurricane victims
THE RECENTLY held ‘Caribbean Day of Giving’ #Caribbean Day of Giving mediathon, to assist Caribbean countries hit by recent hurricanes, was deemed a successful venture with widespread collaboration from the Caribbean diaspora media fraternity.
The organisers of the Day of Giving reported that the event raised over US$40,000 in cash as well as several barrels of goods, which were handed over to Ebenezer Pilgrim Holiness Church in New York, which will coordinate shipping to Barbuda and Dominica.
Most of the funds raised came from New York-based Caribbean Food Delights’ Vincent HoSang Foundation. The event also had the backing of corporate and organisational sponsors such as Digicel, Tower Isles Frozen Foods Limited, Irie Jam Media Group, Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records, Team Jamaica Bickle, Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations, Golden Krust, IMAGES LLC, Caribbean Business Connections and www.shareitcamp.com.
These efforts were in conjunction with fundraising efforts by The American Friends of Jamaica, the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation Relief Fund, all 501(c)3 charity partners of Caribbean Day of Giving.
Much of the funds raised will benefit the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which is the Richie Stephens official body coordinating relief efforts to the various Caribbean countries affected by the hurricanes.
The all-day mediathon, which involved more than 32 radio programmes and other media platforms, featured interviews with prime ministers Hon Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda; Hon Dr Keith Mitchell of Grenada; Hon Andrew Holness of Jamaica; Hon Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines; Hon Allan Chastanet of Saint Lucia; the premier of the British Virgin Islands, The Hon Dr D. Orlando
Smith, as well as Ronald Jackson, executive director of the CDEMA, and Her Excellency Loreen BannisRoberts, permanent representative of the Commonwealth of Dominica to the United Nations. The Door Restaurant in Queens and the Dumplin’ Shop in the Bronx were the location sponsors and sites of the radiothon.
The day ended with a Caribbean Day of Giving benefit concert which was live streamed from Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records Sports Bar in Kingston, Jamaica. Performers included Romain Virgo, Chris Martin, Richie Stephens, Jermaine Edwards, D’Angel and D-Major.
Beyond the day, the organisers acknowledge the significant need for ongoing support to aid in the recovery efforts in the Caribbean region.