Inspiration telethon rakes in half a million dollars for needed center
Construction of the Inspiration Center, a facility that is being built to assist children with disabilities, is quickly becoming a reality. Last Tuesday, members of the media and donors to the cause were given a tour of the center which is located at mile one and a half on the George Price Highway. On Saturday, Special Envoy for Women and Children, Kim Simplis-Barrow spearheaded a second telethon in an effort to raise much needed funds for the center. At the end of the day a total of five hundred and fourteen thousand dollars was raised, with businessman Jitendra Chawla or Jack Charles, as you would know him, being the largest individual donor, contributing a check for ninety-two thousand dollars to the cause.
Rene Villanueva Sr., Event Host
“Jack, thank you so much. Thank you for making this dream a reality. We have done it! We have done it! Thank you so much Jack and it’s because of you. Before we say what Jack has done, right Mrs. Barrow. I know Mrs. Barrow is very emotional right now, she’s extremely emotional because for her this means a whole lot you know so she’s extremely for this gesture that you have done. It’s a unique gesture and on behalf of her and all of us here and on behalf of all the people of Belize and those who will benefit from this Inspiration Center, I’d like to thank you. Thank you so much Jack. Now what led you to do this?”
Jack Charles
Jack Charles
“Well I was seeing you guys were really working hard and you guys are doing a very good job, I mean it’s a very good gesture that you guys are doing. Mrs. Kim Simplis-Barrow, she’s giving the best of her life to these children so I thought definitely, I mean come on we had to achieve a target and here we are. I mean it’s a small donation but I did the best I can do.”
Kim Simplis-Barrow, Special Envoy for Women and Children
“I am speechless right now, really, I was saying all day someone should just walk in with a big check, someone should just walk in with a big check and I guess someone heard me and I am just really, really very pleased, happy, thankful for what you are doing today, you and your son. I know that you’re one of those who keep giving in our community and we’re very grateful, we’re very thankful and, of course, this you know will go a very, very long way.”
Another big donor on Saturday was the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association which donated fifty thousand dollars. The first Inspiration Telethon was held a year ago, where over a million dollars were pledged for the Inspiration Center. All in all, it is projected that the facility will cost in the range of three million dollars on completion.
Thank you Mr. Charles, God Bless you!!!
I applaud what Kim is doing now- BUT I would like to SEE and not just HEAR what actually she thinks and see her in action as well about the present situation re: what is going on at KHMH.
IF she so much as CARES about the children as she says, I would like to hear and SEE her get into action about that. It is a SERIOUS situation and NOTHING has been done about it. If it would have been her daughter- would she be trusting enough to take her to KHMH for treatment at this point?
Where is our MInister of Health- under Barrow’s wings- cowering.
BUT if MRS Barrow CARES about Belizean Children so much as she says I would like to SEE her actually Speaking out about the situation and well as DOING something about it. How many more INNOCENT ANGELS need to DIE for us the Belizean MOthers to voice out our discontent, our worries and helplessness that we cannot TRUST anymore those that are paid to protect, to nurse us back to health, to Educate and the list goes on…
Also- where are the other NGOs that “care” about children, their rights, about families, deal with women and society issues? NOWHERE RIGHT- because money is not being handed out and it is not that week in the whole year that their faces are in the media saying it is women’s week, it is children’s week etc. They spend the rest of the year behind a desk planning this and that and are not visible and engaged in our society and being realistic with what is going on NOW>
WE NEED TO HOLD THOSE IN POSITION, INCLUDING GOVT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DISASTROUS AND SAD SITUATION…
Mr. Jack Charles, your permits for the importation of Gallo and Tecate beer have been approved. The higher-ups of B&B Ltd are just now ***tting their pants. Too bad. They should have ponied up first.
This is a conflicting situation, because I’m grateful for the large donation Chawla Charles made, but I can’t help wondering if the money is clean — his “business practices,” have been shown to be shady so many times, to put it charitably.
I have no such reservations about the generous foreigners from the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association, and the many other smaller donors.
Hopefully all of the money will be applied properly to its stated goal, and one day suffering Belizean children can receive better care.
@ Storm..whether the money is clean or not the purpose of it will be for good..so at least that’s a lil bit of justification for it..there are so many others that have dirty money and just keep it to themselves..so if he wanna share for a great purpose let him go ahead..
I do hope that its the needy belizean children that get to use this centre..not the ones that already have a silver spoon in their mouths..not only that but I also hope that its affordable..I might even say that it should be for just about free to the poverty striken families..
BUT THEY CANT DO THAT FOR DA FOOTBALL TEAM THEY NEED DA MONEY MORE ASAP