From: Rosanna Flamer-Caldera <graycat@sltnet.lk> Colombo, Sri Lanka
Subject: URGENT APPEAL FOR FUNDS
Date: December 30, 2004 3:09:14 AM EST
In the wake of the tragic and catastrophic Tsunami that has devastated a considerable chunk of the Asian Region, in particular the Northern, Eastern, Southern and parts of the Western coasts of Sri Lanka, we send this appeal for funds. Many of you may have already donated to other agencies for this and we thank you for doing so. But for those of you who have not and wish to assist in some way, we ask that you please answer to our appeal for donations.
In our efforts to assist with the relief and rebuilding efforts in Sri Lanka, EQUAL GROUND is raising funds for much needed food, clothing, medicine and other essential items. Sri Lanka’s death toll is over the 25,000 mark now. Almost 2 million people are displaced and will suffer enormously due to the lack of clean drinking water, sanitation facilities and nutrition. Although we are not trying to downplay the enormity of the disaster in other Asian countries (and our thoughts and prayers go out to all of them) we are trying to do whatever we can for Sri Lanka as one of the worst affected countries in the Region.
It is our hope that rather than utilize your donation to arbitrarily buy essential items and ship of to affected areas, we will pick a village or two and concentrate our efforts on relief and rebuilding there.
Sri Lanka will take years to recover from this disaster. Essential services such as schools, hospitals and so on have been wiped out. Our aim is to try and sustainably assist an area and continue to do so as long as we are able to. We are also looking for a reliable local organisation through which to put the money to work most effectively, if this is a more efficient way to do so. With your well wishes and donations we are positive we can make this happen.
Diverse Communications in Chicago will be the single receiving point in the U.S. on behalf of the EQUAL GROUND Relief and Assistance Program. The Trustees of Equal Ground are looking to increase the effectiveness of any funds donated by personally supervising that it is spent on the needy and not on “administration”. Cheques must be made out to "Diverse Communications" (a 501 (c) (3) approved organisation), marked "Sri Lanka" or "Sri Lanka Fund" and mailed to:
Diverse Communications
1146 S Taylor Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60304
Tel: 312-804-1647
Contact Person: Alan Amberg
http://www.diversecommunications.org
Thank you in advance for your donation. Please make sure you provide your email address and contact details when you make your donation as we will be making reports on how the funds are spent. Please do forward this to as many people you know.
The Board of Trustees
EQUAL GROUND
www.equal-ground.org
Tel/Fax: +94-11-2682278 Mobile:+94-722-254348
Contact person: Rosanna Flamer-Caldera