Friends of the Handicapped, FOH, is holding its annual fundraising Sweethearts’ Ball at the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2012.
Many of Aruba’s not-for-profit organizations working on behalf of the mentally, physically or emotionally challenged rely on the generous annual donation of funds raised via various activities among them a Superbowl event and the Sweethearts’ Ball on Valentine’s Day.
Friends of the Handicapped is a volunteer organization of tourists wintering on the island at Casa Del Mar, Aruba Beach Club, Costa Linda and Playa Linda. They solicit direct donations and also receive some contributions from CEDE Aruba, Centro pa Desaroyo Social di Aruba—the Center for Social Development of Aruba, a Dutch initiative which rewards local fund-raising activities by matching additional funds for social projects.
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 annual 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 a recreation facility 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 children’s ward at the hospital, 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 spearheads the efforts and together with other volunteers orchestrates events and consequent check presentations. The funds given to the NGOs usually pay 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 Sweethearts’ Valentine’s Day Dinner & Dance at the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa, offers tickets for $90.00 per person or Awg 150, and includes cocktails, dinner, live music with NBO, dancing, and door prizes, from 7.00pm, on the 14th, with a casual elegant dress code, no jackets required. Another event is a mega Bingo on the 24th of February, at the Renaissance Convention Center downtown, starting at 8:00pm. Call 586-3273 for tickets or information.
Pictured here FOH and NGO representatives at check presentation!
