Philippines Project
Posted by Jesse Wallace
Philippines Project
As everyone knows, the Philippines where recently devastated by a typhoon.
District 7910 seeks donations to Assist the Philippines Rotary Clubs in District 3850 that are mobilizing to take action to help Filipinos in the wake of the death and destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan.
The three Rotary districts impacted by the typhoon are D-3850, D-3860 and D-3830 and Rotarians in those districts have mobilized to provide help to their people where 88% of the population has little to eat and no housing after the typhoon flattened the area.
Terry Griffith, president together with Curtis Whitney (Past President 02-04) of the Rotary Club of Watertown, have started to raise money to send to the Philippines, we want to pursue a broader, sustainable response by pursuing support from The Rotary International Foundation in the form of a matching Global Grant to purchase water filtration systems which can be used in people’s homes. We will partner with District 2820 in Japan because they have expertise in this area. On the recommendation of our Rotarian friends in the Philippines, we will use Sawyer Water Filters because they are portable, inexpensive, easy to assemble, washable, and ideal for disaster relief. The American Red Cross also uses them. Each filter costs about $45 to $50, depending on the cost of transportation. By using The Rotary Foundation as our “force multiplier”, there is the real possibility that other Rotary districts will join this effort and, including Foundation match, we can raise $100,000 to purchase water filtration systems.
In order to begin the grant application process, we in this district first need to raise the $10,000 minimum matching pledge and we are asking Rotarians in District 7910 for help. As we Americans pause to give thanks in this season of giving, please consider a contribution toward the $10,000 we must raise in order to qualify for the global grant. With Rotarians joining together to create leverage, we anticipate that a global grant will put our district in a position to provide monetary support well over the $35,000 minimum threshold.
Most importantly, we will be putting this support directly into the hands of those who can make the depth and breadth of aid really matter – Rotarians on the ground at the epicenter of devastation. Please send your tax deductible donations, which also qualify for Paul Harris points, to: The District 7910 Charity Fund, c/o Lee Ouellette, 52 Lupine Road, Lowell, MA 01850 The District leadership will work to maximize your contribution through The Rotary Foundation.
by Jesse Wallace
Rotary Club of Watertown