St. Maarten AIDS Foundation has received a donation of US $1,000 from the Nothin’ But Alcohol (NBA) Crew, a booth holder in Carnival Village for the 2015 cultural event. The donation is part-proceeds from the crew’s sales.
This is the second consecutive year NBA has made a donation to a charitable cause from its Carnival time proceeds. “We encourage others to contribute to the organizations that do charitable work and community services year round. We appreciate the time volunteers and full-time staff put into selflessly into services to the community,” said Duncan van Heyningen on behalf of NBA crew that includes Rene Guishard and Philmore Watson.
Van Heyningen and Watson presented the cheque to foundation representatives Rajesh Chintaman and Katie Gallo at the foundation secretariat in the Sun Building in Cole Bay.
Rajesh Chintaman of St. Maarten AIDS Foundation said, “It is with the support of community-minded individuals and groups such as NBA we are able to continue with our awareness, youth, free rapid and confidential HIV tests and other programmes geared to making St. Maarten free HIV/AIDS.” The funds will be used for the foundation’s various community projects.
The two NBA members were given a tour of the foundation’s office and given an explanation about the services offered such as free testing.
Van Heyningen said, “We enjoyed our tour of the HIV/AIDS Foundation’s office and saw the hard work that goes into such an organization up close.”
NBA plans to continue its support of charitable cause and have fun doing it along the way. Carnival and Soca lovers are urged by Van Heyningen to look out for the next NBA event in the coming months.
The AIDS Foundation Secretariat, in the Sun Building across from Tropicana Casino, is the only entity offering HIV/STI prevention education outreach and care/treatment support for persons living with HIV/ AIDS on the Dutch side of the island.
The AIDS Foundation offers its testing and pretest counselling free of charge. The foundation, run primarily by volunteers, also carried out two free life skills programmes targeting teenagers in high school. The girls participate in Girl Power and the boys in Real Talk.
The foundation acquires the bulk of its funding from community and corporate donations. A major donation generator is the annual Stronger Together/Red Ribbon fundraising campaign carried out in collaboration with Scotiabank. The ninth edition of the campaign was launched in early May.
The 2014 campaign fell just short of the annual goal of US $100,000, a reflection of the continuing challenge in fundraising locally and internationally.
The Red Ribbon campaign at primary schools combines HIV awareness with a dollar donation for a Red Ribbon, which can be decorated with the donor’s name and brought to Scotiabank to pin on a dedicated wall.
To make a donation, e-mail info@sxmaidsfoundation.org or make a direct deposit at Scotiabank account numbers 7223 (US dollars) and 7221 (guilders) in the name of “Stronger Together HIV/AIDS Campaign.”
For HIV counselling and tests, visit the secretariat or call 588-4636 or 553-2626. Also visit the foundation’s website: www.sxmaidsfoundation.org for more information about services.
