Previous Story
Bank of Hawaii, Tan Holdings donate $50K to ARC
|
Posted on Aug 29 2004
Help is starting to pour in from the local business community into the Disaster Relief Fund of the American Red Cross NMI Chapter.
On Friday, Bank of Hawaii and Tan Holdings and its affiliates—CTSI Logistics and Century Insurance Co. Ltd.—took the lead in providing assistance to the victims of Supertyphoon Chaba in the CNMI by donating $25,000 each to the Red Cross.
Lynn Knight, vice president for corporate affairs of Tan Holdings Corp., said the two companies came up with the amount by challenging one another.
Bank of Hawaii general manager Stephen Brock said the bank was also glad to be of service to the typhoon victims.
Jerry Tan, executive vice president of Tan Holdings Corp., echoed this. He said, “We don’t feel good about the circumstances, but we’re happy to be able to provide some relief to the disaster victims.”
Tan also encouraged other companies to donate to the Red Cross or help in whatever way they can.
“The Disaster Relief Fund of the American Red Cross enables prompt and direct assistance and support to the victims of Supertyphoon Chaba in Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, and other disasters,” said Jocelyn Deleon Guerrero, chair of the Red Cross NMI Chapter.
The relief fund allows the Red Cross to provide the essentials of emergency assistance, including food for shelter residents, emergency supplies, and direct cash assistance to disaster victims, she added.
According to preliminary estimates by the Red Cross, over 2,000 homes were damaged or destroyed when Supertyphoon Chaba tore through the Northern Marianas on Sunday.
More than 1,000 residents of Saipan alone have sought refuge at local emergency shelters, at which the Red Cross provides free meals every day.
Initial estimates from the government indicate that the total damage brought by the typhoon may reach $20 million.
“Your support is extremely important to the Red Cross, as the Disaster Relief Fund is critically low and in dire need of replenishment,” Deleon Guerrero told businesses in a letter. “Because Red Cross is not a government agency, we are entirely dependent upon voluntary contributions to replenish this fund, and allow us to continue providing the care and critical services many people rely on in times of crisis.”
