Friends of the Handicapped, a volunteer organization of tourists wintering on the island at Casa Del Mar, Aruba Beach Club, Costa Linda and Playa Linda, concluded its winter 2009 fund raising season with over Awg 100,000 in direct donations and in contributions from CEDE Aruba, Centro pa Desaroyo Social di Aruba-Center for Social Development of Aruba.
To date, the extraordinary visitors have collected much more than one million florins and have donated the funds to local associations and organizations, dedicated to the welfare of Aruba’s mentally and physically handicapped.
Among recipients of generous checks Mi Por, an organization of mothers with handicapped infants, Foster Home Imeldahof, the Edmund Harms Hospice Foundation, the hearing-impaired Funari school & FEPO, Fundacion Respeta Mi which guards against child abuse, Ambiente Nobo, sister Philothea’s home for the handicapped, Ambiente Feliz & AVA, catering to special-need kids, Centro Kibrahacha for the elderly, Bibito Pin, a school for children with disabilities, Fundacion Cas Marie, dedicated to those suffering from dementia, Clown Doctors who visit the elderly and also kids in the hospital’s children’s ward, the Red Cross dedicated to disaster first response and management and Fundacion Pa Nos Muchanan whose name indicates care for children, Falpa, foundation Arubano pa lectura, Adopt an Addict, FAVI, helping the visually impaired, Thuiszorg Aruba, Sea-Epilepsie and Samba, a rehab center.
Foundation President Art Stark called recipients up and asked them all to say a few words about their foundations. It was a very moving and emotional evening, as representative of the not-for-profit foundations outlined the work they do on behalf of the needy also explaining how the funds will be put to good use, paying for transport, renovations, educational materials, kitchen equipment, wheel chairs and conferences, promoting understanding and acceptance of handicapped members of our society.
This year, Stark reports the fund raising activities included a Mega Bingo at the Renaissance Convention Center, a Sweethearts’ Valentine’s Day Dinner & Dance at the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa, weekly arts and crafts fairs, Sunday mass donations, a Superbowl party and significant amounts pledged by the local community. Pictured here, the FOH board, at the fund distribution event, handing over much-needed checks to 22 not-for-profit organizations supporting Aruba’s handicapped community.
