Telethon Set To "Raise The Roof" For NRF
On the first anniversary of Hurricane Ivan, the Cayman Islands National Recovery Fund (CINRF) will stage a national telethon to raise funds to continue its work of repairing homes damaged by the hurricane.
Billed as "Raising the Roof", the telethon will be broadcast live from the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort from 7:00 p.m. to midnight on 10th September. The telethon will be aired live on CITN/Cayman 27, which is donating its services to the event. One hundred per cent of the funds raised during the telethon will be allocated specifically to rebuilding roofs of those who suffered at the hands of Hurricane Ivan.
"When we heard that over 300 homes still require roofs, we knew that we needed to move forward urgently with efforts to raise funds. Like many local companies, CITN/Cayman 27 has been a supporter of community-based initiatives. However, we are dealing with people who need shelter and we would like to see a strong level of participation in the telethon," commented Mike Martin, General Manager of CITN/Cayman 27.
Managing Director of the Marriott Resort, Chris Sariego welcomed the staging of the telethon at the newly re-opened hotel. "This is a phenomenal project and we are proud to participate and in so doing to give back to the community," he said.
Promising a night of exciting entertainment and insight into the work of, and people behind the Fund, the five-hour telethon will have as presenters and special guests His Excellency the Governor, Bruce Dinwiddy CMG, Executive Director, Dr. Mark Laskin, Trustees of the Fund, among others. Live entertainment will be featured throughout the broadcast.
"This presents a wonderful opportunity to reach more persons in the community with our fundraising efforts and at the same time showcase the work of the Recovery Fund," stated CINRF's Executive Director, Dr. Mark Laskin.
"The idea of this telethon has received enthusiastic support from our own staff and others in the community who are committed to seeing that this effort is a successful one, and that we realise the maximum gain for the benefit of the hundreds of Caymanian residents who still require assistance in improving their living conditions," he added.
"Raising the Roof" telethon caps a year of fundraising efforts on the part of the National Recovery Fund, which has included innovative approaches such as an employer/employee monthly pledge donation, underwritten by Deloitte. More recently, the Fund began working with a professional fundraising firm based in the US to attract international donors and re-energise local fundraising efforts. Several local companies and individuals have also staged their own fundraising efforts and donated the proceeds to the Fund.
The Fund was set up last September as a private independent Trust, and has relied on private fundraising both locally and overseas to seed its operations. The Fund receives no governmental funds at present. Chaired by His Excellency, the Governor, Mr. Bruce Dinwiddy, the Fund is administered by a Board of Trustees drawn from the private sector.
In the space of 10 months, some 300 homes have been repaired by the Fund, which is seeking to complete another 300 in the next 12 months. The Fund has prioritised applicants who were not insured and whose households have young children, elderly or infirm residents.
In June, the operations of ment Bank's Housing Recovery Grant.
Beyond its role in repairing Cayman's housing stock, the National Recovery Fund was conceptualized to provide support to the overall rebuilding efforts of the community, to further the social, cultural, educational, economic, religious, touristic, sporting and environmental recovery of the Cayman Islands and to benefit charities with related purposes.
For more information on how to participate in the Raising the Roof telethon, please call Marvette Darien, coordinator for the National Recovery Fund's telethon at 326-1292.
Contact:
- Marvette Darien for CINRF - 946-6064
- Melissa Wolfe for Weststar/Cayman 27: 916-8335 - Email: goodidea@candw.ky