~St. Maarten AIDS Foundation to benefit~
he first two buyers of the online art auction to benefit the St Maarten AIDS Foundation took delivery of their paintings at a brief ceremony at the Roland Richardson Gallery in Marigot over the weekend. Mrs Leslie Bendaly and Dr Gerard van Osch made their purchases online at www.idonatetocharity.org/store/sxmcharity and were presented with the paintings by the artist, Sir Roland Richardson, on Saturday.
The online auction sponsored by homeowners in Oyster Pond of artworks by Sir Roland Richardson was announced at the PANCAP Annual General Meeting on November 1 as part of this year’s Stronger Together Red Ribbon Campaign. Proceeds will benefit HIV/AIDS educational and preventive health programs targeting schoolchildren in St. Maarten between 14- and 18-years old. The auction runs until December 1, 2010, World AIDS Day. Access to the auction is at www.idonatetocharity.org/store/sxmcharity
Scotiabank, in partnership with the St. Maarten AIDS Foundation, formed the Stronger Together Red Ribbon Campaign in 2006. It is an annual fundraising effort to provide education, support and counsel on the risks and consequences of living with HIV/AIDS. Over the past four years, the effort has raised US$135 000 to finance the care and treatment of uninsured persons living with HIV/AIDS, who are in need of proper medical care, medicine, counselling and other forms of support. This year’s fundraising goal is US$100 000.
Proceeds from the online art auction are specifically earmarked for the development and execution of girls and boys programs that address the growing number of teenagers at risk for HIV/AIDS and STDs. These programs have been developed by Emory University Rollins School of Public Health and are tailored to incorporate multiple teaching methods that resonate with the participants’ age-level and the St. Maarten culture.