TV charity show received 117,718 calls and 28,981 SMSs

President Guido de Marco yesterday thanked the people for their contributions to l-Istrina and all those who were involved in the organisation of the programme for their time and commitment.

The desired record of Lm1 million was reached and even surpassed, with Lm1,022,479.90 being raised at the end of a live transmission lasting just over 12 hours.

A total of 117,718 telephone calls were made - 97,183 making Lm5 donations and 20,535 making Lm10 donations. Another 28,981 people sent SMSs donating Lm5 each.

Prof. de Marco said that Lm146,019.40 were donated in cash or cheques and Lm40,290.50 were pledged.

The Malta Community Chest Fund, which is chaired by the President and Mrs de Marco, will be getting 50 per cent of the proceeds and will donate a small percentage to animal welfare.

The rest of the money will go to the Eden Foundation (12.5 per cent), Caritas (7.5 per cent), the Park of Friendship, Church Homes for the Elderly, YMCA and the Emigrants Commission (five per cent each) and the Children's Cancer Support Group, the Millennium Chapel, Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem, the Daniel Delicata Memorial Association, the Ghaqda Persuni Neqsin mis-Smigh, Daritama, the San Tomas Apostolo Parish in Guatemala and the Ghana Mission Foundation (1.25 per cent each).

Organisers Where's Everybody? and many other volunteers donated their services and all gifts given were also donated but there were expenses which had to be deducted from the amount collected. However, it was very likely that there would still be more than Lm1 million to be distributed to the charitable institutions, presenter Peppi Azzopardi said.

Maltacom also donated the usual charge it put on telephone calls.

Prof. de Marco said l-Istrina was the flagship of all Where's Everybody?'s activities throughout the year. The programme, he said, would not have been successful had it not been for their enthusiasm and dedication.

The President, whose term expires in April, promised his assistance to his successor.

The CCF, he said, had, up to now reached societies and many individuals but there were still many people who were in need who did not seek help.

Mrs de Marco said the CCF had been instrumental in giving cancer patients injections, which cost Lm800 each, and their daily pills, which cost Lm40 each. The fund had put pressure on the government and these were now being provided by the state.

Mr Azzopardi said charity should not be linked just to l-Istrina. People who were suffering had a right to some positive discrimination, also from a social services point of view. The government, he said, should carry out changes for such people to have a right to more assistance.

He pointed out that although money was important, it was not everything. People who did not have grandparents should find an elderly person living alone and "adopt". There was also an urgent need for blood at the Blood Bank. These were just two examples of things which involved time and not money.

He also appealed to the committee to consider animals as beneficiaries.

L-Istrina continues tomorrow with an auction of some 120 works of art donated by artists. The auction is being held live on TVM between 2-6 p.m. The works of art may be viewed at St James' Cavalier, in Valletta, or online, with bids being received until tonight.

http://www.abakus.com.mt/istrina/auction.asp