Filipino youth raise over $3,000 for Typhoon Ondoy victims

Filipino youth raise over $3,000 for Typhoon Ondoy victims

TORONTO–Efforts to raise funds for Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) relief continues for youth of the Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture with the launch of a new fundraising campaign, Home for Christmas, to collect donations for CRC (Children’s Rehabilitation Center).

The money raised will be used to rebuild after school facilities, daycare centers, and provide for those who have been affected by typhoons Ketsana and Parma.

“We’re hoping to raise as much as possible with an online campaign using FaceBook and other social media applications. Children are deeply affected by the displacement, loss of resources and the loss of their parents’ income. The CRC is on the ground helping these children and their parents through therapy and immediate relief assistance,” said Martinne Palanca,18, Home for Christmas Project Manager.

Monetary donations are being accepted online via PayPal transactions or through mailed-in cheques and in-person donations at 167 Augusta Av. until December 25th, 2009 when the total amount raised will be announced. Tax receipts for donations may be issued by our community partner, SWB (Schools Without Borders). To date, youth of the Kapisanan Philippine Centre have raised $3,093.00 through a poetry rhyme-off fundraising event and frequent drop-off donations at the arts centre, Funds raised have been donated to Global Medic, a volunteer-based Canadian agency currently deployed in the Philippines to provide safe drinking water to those displaced by the duo storms Ketsana and Parma. An additional 21 freight boxes filled with food, clothing and relief supplies from Filipinos across the Greater Toronto Area have also been shipped.

To date, GlobalMedic has set up a large scale water purification plant in the Municipality of Cainta in Rizal Province and are working alongside a Regoron Emergency Response Team providing clean drinking water to 14 evacuation centres.

“The Filipino community has been inspired by our youth as they’ve worked around the clock to pack and transport 21 freight boxes with needed items, collect money and now, launch a new fundraising campaign to support the CRC,” says Caroline Mangosing, Kapisanan Executive Director. “It’s amazing to see what our youth can do in this time of need.”

The Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture is a youth-led organization that fosters leadership and positive Filipino cultural identification through arts presentation and professional development. Nestled in one of the most vibrant and diverse enclaves in Toronto, Kensington Market, it has grown to become a focal point for mentorship programs and educational arts-based activities.

(PRESS RELEASE)