All day jamming seeks $ for Tsunami victims
It was a disaster that, hopefully, most of us will not see equaled in our lifetimes. And while no Belizeans were directly affected by last month’s Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, we know that when trouble heads in our direction we will want others to care. That may be one reason why the cause of helping the victims in Asia has struck such a responsive chord here. Jacqueline Woods reports on plans for the weekend.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
To date, over fifty Belizean artists have volunteered to participate in what is being described as the biggest fundraising effort in the country?s cultural history. The event is being held to raise money for the Asian Tsunami victims. The relief effort is the brainchild of local jazz singer Jennifer Lovell, who received the full support of the National Institute of Culture and History.
Karla Heusner, Public Relations Officer, NICH
?She been watching the TV and saw the scenes that everybody has seen and she was wondering if Belizean artists would come together and do a charitable event. We talked about it and decided to try.?
?To us we can?t physically go into anything but let?s just sort of do what we do best in Belize, which is creating a lot of music, a lot of dance, a lot excitement and just have people come out and have fun.?
NICH public relations officer Karla Heusner says because the fund raising driving is a voluntary activity they were not sure how the entertainers would have responded to the idea, but it did not take long before the phones started ringing off the hook.
Karla Heusner
?I wouldn?t say it?s starting because I expected people to respond. But the way the way they responded, we only had two artists decline and basically because they were not going to be available for that date. It?s just one person would call and say I know somebody and someone else have a group and all the employees are finding people that they know and asking people to come and it?s been really overwhelming.?
The show scheduled for Saturday will run for twelve uninterrupted hours and will include indoor and outdoor entertainment at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts. Heusner says there is no cover charge but a small contribution is being asked to support the cause.
Karla Heusner
?For the inside, we want to have a little contribution. We are suggesting five dollars for adults and a dollar for children just so we have a base. But more than that obviously or if somebody just comes and contribute we would accept that. We are just hoping to get people to give freely. We also have some phone banks for people to call in with pledges and we are trying to work out how could possibly do that for people abroad to work that our because there is some interest abroad. Apparently the press release is being sent out all over the place and we are getting requests for video and we are getting request for all sorts of things. For some reason some people just want to do something and contribute.?
Heusner says they have no specific fundraising goal but that whatever they manage to take in will be more than welcome. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
The proceeds from the event will be handed over to the Belize Red Cross who then will forward the money to their international headquarters.
