The record Lm882,000 raised during L-Istrina programme on Television Malta last Saturday will be a boon to a number of charities and philanthropic organisations but others feel it will be harder for them to raise money.

The Eden Foundation, for one, would have to think up ways of raising money in the coming year as it would be feeling the pinch, the foundation's marketing manager, Robert Farrugia, said when contacted.

The Eden Foundation caters for children with mental disability and the philosophy of the foundation is to get the children included in mainstream schools and become part of society.

"Without in any way being critical of the stupendous effort made by the team led by Peppi Azzopardi, it is a fact that every person has a budget as to what he or she can afford to give to charity. There is only so much one can collect from such a small population. The cake is being divided between so many takers.

"It is a good thing that 50 per cent of the monies collected during L-Istrina will be going to the Community Chest Fund because in that way so many other deserving organisations and individuals will be able to benefit," Mr Farrugia said.

However, Joe Micallef, administrator of Dar tal-Providenza, in Siggiewi does not believe the bonanza collected during L-Istrina would make any difference to the money the homes would need to raise.

Dar tal-Providenza requires about Lm1.5 million annually, out of which about Lm1.2 million would go to pay salaries for the 230 full-timers on its books and who care for 123 disabled persons whose ages range from four to 70.

Mr Farrugia said: "Those who were prepared to, let us say, donate Lm30 and have already done so through L-Istrina would find it hard to donate more to others.

"For this year, the Eden Foundation will have to search for new and innovative ways of raising money."

Incidentally, one of the early editions of L-Istrina, now in its eighth year, was dedicated to the Eden Foundation and raised Lm70,000.

Raising funds had become a sort of market place where about 300 organisations, including parishes and band clubs, vied with each other to collect money, he said.

The Eden Foundation is a non-profit organisation requiring about Lm800,000 annually, the bulk going in salaries for the professional staff.

Out of the Lm800,000, the foundation would have to raise close to Lm500,000 through donations from benefactors and fund-raising activities.

The culture of donations by individuals had become more widespread but the development had not been matched by commercial firms, Mr Farrugia said.

"No data is kept of the amount of money raised for charities and philanthropic organisations. Research along these lines ought be taken up as part of national statistics," Mr Farrugia said.

Mr Micallef said people liked Dar tal-Providenza so much that "if we were to send out an alarm call, people would rush to help".

Two major projects being undertaken presently by the Siggiewi homes include the training of staff locally and overseas through the European Union programme Leonardo and the revamping of services, including the swimming pool which needs to be rebuilt.

Half of the money collected during the annual Kerygma Volleyball Marathon is passed on to Dar tal-Providenza - this year's share from that marathon will amount to Lm116,000.

RTK radio is currently holding a fund-raising campaign on behalf of Dar tal-Providenza which will culminate in an open day from 2 p.m. tomorrow.

Excerpts of the campaign will be broadcast live on RTK, on the cable TV channel EWTN and on Channel 12.

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