Help Us Help Haiti National Telethon Committee Makes Presentation to the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas. Nearly $200,000 of the pledged $250,000 was presented to Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund during a cheque presentation at Bank of The Bahamas, proceeds raised during a two-night, commercial-free telethon that aired on all TV and radio stations simultaneously January 25-26. Pictured left to right are Paul McWeeney, Managing Director Bank of The Bahamas; Philip Simon, Executive Director Bahamas Chamber of Commerce; Janet Johnson, Disaster Relief Chair Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas; Felix Stubbs Assistant Governor to the Bahamas for Rotary District 7020; Diane Phillips Telethon Committee Chairman and Khaalis Rolle President Bahamas Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Roland Rose

The effort was coordinated by the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce along with Rotary Clubs whose members have been serving as operations central since the 7.0 earthquake struck on January 12, devastating what was already the poorest country in the region.

Some $250,000 was pledged during the telethon based at the British Colonial Hilton where the volunteer phone bank was stationed both nights. A major concert at Arawak Cay on the second night helped raise funds.   

“Pledges are continuing to come in daily, but the needs are so great that we did not want to delay presenting the funds collected to date so that members of Rotary could continue meeting the growing needs of hundreds of thousands who are still homeless, in desperate need of shelter, food, water and medical supplies,” said Diane Phillips, who chaired the telethon committee.

“This effort, the results of which we are seeing this morning shows what a community can do when it comes together for a cause in which it believes,” said Khaalis Rolle, Chamber president. “Every single person who contributed from organisers who devoted hundreds of hours to musicians who shared their talent to media houses who promoted and aired the telethon without charge are all to be commended.

People cared. They came together putting aside other needs and we trust that their efforts will ease the pain and make life a little bit better for many who have suffered so in Haiti.”

According to Rotary Club spokesman Janet Johnson, who heads the disaster relief arm, Nassau Rotarians who visited Haiti as recently as last week said conditions had deteriorated with thousands of temporary tents, raw sewage, lack of sufficient drinking water and a fear of malaria with the rainy season less than a month away.

“But every contribution helps and the funds we are receiving today will buy supplies that could make the difference between life and death,” said Johnson.

The presentation was held at Bank of The Bahamas which has been at the forefront of the volunteer efforts, handling the fee-free accounts and collecting goods for the donation of goods in all its branches throughout the country as well as in relief depot boxes in partner locations including City Market stores and Kelly’s at the Mall at Marathon.