Telethon raises $44 million for Hurricane Harvey, Irma relief

LOS ANGELES | A celebrity-packed telethon for the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma raised some $44 million, organizers said on Wednesday, after more than 130 stars including George Clooney, Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey and Justin Bieber joined forces to sing, man the phones or appeal for donations.

The hour-long Hand in Hand telethon, which aired across broadcast, cable and digital platforms on Tuesday night, raised more than $14 million during the live broadcast.

Organizers on Wednesday said that the total rose to $44 million in pledges made after West Coast and other re-broadcasts.

Irma, one of the most powerful Atlantic Ocean storms on record, ravaged several islands in the northern Caribbean, killing at least 60 people. It barreled into the Florida Keys on Sunday, where 90 percent of homes are believed to be destroyed or heavily damaged.

Beyonce, appearing in a taped message, spoke of the urgent need for supplies in her hometown of Houston after Harvey became the most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years, killing more than 60 people, displacing more than 1 million and damaging some 203,000 homes.

During the show, Stephen Colbert said Apple Inc had donated $5 million, which the comedian quipped, “is also the price of the new iPhone.”

The telethon aired from New York, Nashville and Los Angeles, where Stevie Wonder kicked off the event singing “Lean On Me,” with a gospel choir as stars such as Tom Hanks, Barbra Streisand and Cher clapped along while sitting at their phone stations.

source: interaksyon.com

US Filipinos organize fund drive for flood victims

Over the last week extremely-heavy rainfall battered Manila and the northern Philippines wreaking havoc on the Philippine capital and surrounding areas much like Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. The death toll from the flooding has already risen to 51. More than 1.2 million people are affected, including 850,000 who have been displaced from their homes. Although the current rains are expected to recede, many more storms and typhoons are still expected to worsen the situation.

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), with member organizations throughout the US calls on our families and friends to once again lend our love, prayers and monetary support to flood-affected communities by activating its Bayanihan Relief for Flood Victims in the Philippines.

NAFCON is collecting exclusively monetary relief  and ensures that donations go quickly and directly to the communities of the Philippines who are adversely affected by the typhoon identified as Saola. Donations will be coursed through Migrante International, our partner organization on the ground with a long and respected reputation of serving Filipino communities.

“Our kababayan back home can count on overseas Filipinos in the US. In response to Ondoy and Sendong, NAFCON along with other supporters has raised nearly $100,000 and we will continue to support our families and friends in need.” said Terry Valen, NAFCON President.

NAFCON has established cash and check collections centers throughout the US and will take donations via Paypal at http://tinyurl.com/nafconrelief3 or on our website at http://www.nafconsua.org/.

For mailed checks please make payable to “Tulong Sa Bayan” and send to 519 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. On memo please write: NAFCON Bayanihan Relief and your city of residence. Donations of $250 or more will be tax deductible.  Please include return address with donations.

For more information on fundraising and relief activities in your area please contact NAFCON regional coordinators nearest you or go to our website.

Northeast: Anne Corotan ne@nafconusa.org (516) 901-1832

Midwest: Lorena Buni mw@nafconusa.org (224) 678-3415

Norcal: Ryan Leano nc@nafconusa.org (626) 534-4971

Socal: Alex Montances sc@nafconusa.org (253) 381-7444

Local Monetary Drop/Send Sites (Please make all checks payable to “Tulong Sa Bayan”)

Northeast: Philippine Forum: 40-21 69th St. Woodside, NY

Midwest:         Good Shepherd Congregation:          4707 W. Pratt Ave Lincolnwood, Il 60712

Norcal: Filipino Community Center: 4681 Mission St. San Francisco, Ca 94112

Socal: Tulong Sa Bayan 519 S. Spring St., LA, CA 90013

source: asianjournal.com