Radisson donates to A.A.A., Gwen Liz
The Radisson Fort George Hotel today stretched out the hand of corporate assistance in the fight against AIDS. During brief ceremonies this morning the staff of the hotel’s Stone Grill restaurant handed over the proceeds of a fund raising drive to the Alliance Against AIDS. The cheque was for twenty-one hundred and eighty-three dollars. Executive Director of A.A.A., Rodel Beltran Perera, commended the Radisson.
Rodel Beltran Perera, Executive Dir., Alliance Against AIDS
“This money goes directly to assisting our clients. Our clients are people living with HIV and AIDS. What we have decided to use these monies is, our clients do need some education on the virus, on the disease. So I think these monies will go directly in assisting them to learn more about what they’re experiencing and dealing with their status on a daily basis. So it’s going for educational purposes to educate persons living with HIV and AIDS.”
Patrick Jones
“What’s the current state of people living with HIV/AIDS?”
Rodel Beltran Perera
“It is not a good picture. I think that services are extremely important in Belize. We need to work much more in making their lives easier. I think that there are very minimal places where persons living with HIV can go for assistance. And so Alliance, which is the agency that is doing that, that is our focus, is doing actually that, but it needs to be stepped up. We really need to get out there much more in providing adequate services for persons living with HIV, not only in Belize District, but in other parts of the country and it is difficult for these persons out there.”
During the month of August, ten cents of every dollar spent at the Stone Grill was earmarked for the Alliance Against Aids. The next N.G.O. that will benefit from the Radisson’s fundraising drive will be the National Committee for Families and Children.
But people affected and afflicted with HIV/AIDS were not the only ones on the receiving end of the Radisson’s generosity. Head Coach for the Gwen Lizarraga High School male basketball team William Gaynair this morning took receipt of monies that will be used to fund the school’s participation in the upcoming Secondary School competition.
William Gaynair, Coach, Gwen Liz Basketball Team
“We’re the defending secondary school male basketball champions. We hope to repeat this year as champions and were grateful for the donation that Stone Grill has made to us, for us to get our jerseys.”
“I see it as something very good for institutions such as Radisson to be helping, especially in secondary school sports. Most of the schools cannot generally raise this money on their own. After all the cost of jerseys is pretty steep. So donations like these are considered to be very helpful and a very good move on their part.”
David Almendarez, Sales Manager, Radisson Hotel
“Radisson has always been a community conscious institution. We were looking at new and innovative ways to get involved in the community, and what better way than to help high schools in their basketball endeavours.”
“It not only puts us in a better public eye, but it also helps us with a warm feeling inside, we are helping our community at the same time. It is a pleasure to help the community who has been supporting us for over fifty years.”
The Gwen Liz donation is for five hundred dollars. The sponsorship also includes refreshments and in-game giveaways whenever the Stone Grillers are playing.
