STAR fund drive gathers steam

MANILA, Philippines - The STAR’s fund drive for victims of tropical storm “Sendong” gathered steam as personal donations amounting to P157,000 were sent in yesterday, bringing the total funds raised to P712,000.

According to STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte, proceeds raised from the fund drive would be used to assist in the rehabilitation of areas in Mindanao and the Visayas that were devastated by Sendong.

As of yesterday, the death toll from what has been described as the world’s deadliest storm in 2011 had breached the 1,000 mark.

Operation Damayan, the philanthropic arm of the STAR Group of Companies, acknowledges donations that were sent in yesterday by individuals and companies, as follows: Wico Philippines, P50,000; Eddie Hao, P25,000; Grafika Enterprises, P20,000; Anonymous (K.L.), P20,000; Alexis, Joan Regie, Teresa and Jose Rafael Lavilla, P10,000; Rotary Club of Ozamiz North, P10,000; To God Alone Be The Glory (Anonymous), P10,000; Nida Constantino, P5,000; Pastor Medardo Maninang, P5,000; and Grace Laurel, P2,000.

The STAR continues to call on kindhearted organizations and individuals to donate to The STAR’s ‘Sendong’ fund drive, which is being carried out in conjunction with i-Remit’s more than 700 offices in 26 countries all over the world to allow Filipinos abroad to send in their donations.

Cash donations from local donors may be deposited to: The Philippine STAR Operation Damayan c/o MBTC Aduana Branch Savings Account No. 151-304-161622-9 (Please fax deposit slip to tel. no. 301-9598 c/o Operation Damayan). For inquiries, please call any of The STAR’s Damayan coordinators at tel. 527-7901.