Lea Salonga events in Washington DC raise more than $19,000 in fresh contributions to funds for typhoon victims
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http://www.asianjournal.com/fil-am-news/3-filamnews/3324-lea-salonga-events-in-washington-dc-raise-more-than-19000-in-fresh-contributions-to-funds-for-typhoon-victims-.html
Lea Salonga events in Washington DC raise more than $19,000 in fresh
contributions to funds for typhoon victims
Thursday, 22 October 2009 15:20 AJPress
DRAWING on the beauty of her voice and the power of music, Tony Award-
honored Lea Salonga helped raise more than $19,000 in additional
contributions for typhoon relief funds in twin events here.
Ms. Salonga made a special appearance at a “Solidarity Mass” at the
Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle and had a reception for donors at
the Philippine Ambassador’s Residence.
At St. Matthew’s, Salonga sang The Lord’s Prayer in Filipino and made
a special appeal to the attendees saying, “Much has been done… but
there is so much more that still needs to be done.”
At the donors’ reception, Ms. Salonga made a similar appeal and urged
everyone present to do his or her part for the typhoon victims in the
Philippines.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa thanked Ms.
Salonga for her commitment to help raise awareness and funds for
typhoon victims in the Philippines.
“Her extraordinary voice is matched by her extraordinary heart,” said
Ambassador Gaa.
“We thank Lea for what she has done and what she will continue to do
for her country,” added Ambassador Gaa at the donor’s reception.
At the reception, a cheque for $10,000 was turned over by Covington
and Burling representative Martin Gold to Ambassador Willy C. Gaa.
A cheque for $1,000 was likewise turned over by the George Washington
University Hospital Women’s Board.
The events brought to more than $100,000 or 46 million pesos the
amount raised for typhoon victims by the Filipino Community under the
consular jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.
More than half of the amount have been turned over to Philippine
relief agencies and NGOs of choice by the donors and Filipino-American
associations.
The World Bank Group-IMF Fil-Am Staff Association announced during
the reception that the Association’s members had raised $40,000. The
amount will be matched by IMF-WB under its Community Connections
program.
The Filipino American Community of Central Virginia also announced it
will match up to $10,000 donations made for typhoon victims under its
continuing program. FAACV had earlier donated $5,000 to the
Philippine National Red Cross.
Organizations such as the Philippine American Foundation for
Charities, Inc. —the umbrella organization of Filipino associations in
the Greater Metro DC area—had, last week, donated $5,000.
The Philippine Embassy continues to coordinate with Filipino
organizations within its consular jurisdiction and assists queries on
how to best assist the relief and rehabilitation efforts in the
Philippines.
In thanking the Filipino community and friends of the Philippines,
Ambassador Gaa noted that the “tremendous outpouring of support and
expressions of solidarity serve to further strengthen our resolve as
we move towards rehabilitation and reconstruction.”
“The Filipino spirit remains strong and unbowed; together with our
kababayan and friends here and around the world, the challenges we now
face will be overcome,” said Ambassador Gaa.