Final preparations for tomorrow's charity marathon TV programme l-Istrina are in full swing.
The programme, being broadcast on all local stations between 10 a.m. and midnight, aims to collect as much money as possible from the public to help a total of 33 charities.
But for presenters Peppi Azzopardi and Valerie Vella the day starts much earlier than 10 a.m.
They meet at 4 a.m. to go into the final details of the programme but in spite of the very long day ahead, Mr Azzopardi said yesterday that the programme does not tire him. What actually tires him are the clips which have to be prepared beforehand.
Mr Azzopardi said the clips pose a dilemma to him every year because while these have to reflect reality, they should be ethically acceptable. He admitted that he was never 100 per cent certain about what to show, so there were psychologists on the team to give advice.
Other volunteers on the programme include notaries, who were on the programme site near Television House in Guardamangia yesterday morning checking computers to ensure that the prize giving system is fair.
Mr Azzopardi said yesterday it was calculated that 5,000 hours of voluntary work were donated last year saving the organisers some Lm200,000 in expenses. This year 1,500 people are taking part and 300 volunteers will be involved in the programme.
There will be 33 organisations benefiting this year, with the Community Chest Fund getting half the proceeds.
The other half will be distributed among Fondazzjoni Wens (7.5 per cent); Ejja Ghandi - Children's Homes (6.25%); Church Homes for the Elderly (5%); Puttinu Cares - Children's Cancer Support Group (3.75%); Fra Diegu Home, St Joseph Home and Fondazzjoni Arka (2.5% each); Caritas Malta (1.5%); Skola Kommunitarja Cottonera, Fondazzjoni Hajja Indipendenti, Dar il-Kaptan, the Malta Wireless and Talking Books for the Blind Foundation, the Friends of the Adult Training Centre, Dar San Pietru, Friends of the Little Sisters of the Poor, the Holy Family Home for the Elderly, Dar Merhba Bik and the Cana Movement (1.25% each);
The Richmond Foundation (1%); Step by Step Foundation, Segretarjat Assistenza Socjali and the Emigrants' Commission (0.75% each); and the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, Ghaqda Maltija ghat-Trasport tal-Morda f'Lourdes, the Mental Health Association, Prison Fellowship Malta, the Malta Dementia Society, Community Project in Guatemala, Hospital Regional San Juan Bautista - Jalpatagua, the Medical Missionary of Mary, SOS Solidarity Overseas Service, the Criminal Justice Bureau and YMCA - Valletta (0.25% each).
Only 1.7% of the funds collected are earmarked for overseas projects.
The beneficiaries of the programme are chosen by an independent committee chaired by Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima. The committee also follows up what is done with the money.
The accounts are the responsibility of KPMG and they are audited by PriceWaterHouse Cooper.
Mr Azzopardi said that more voluntary work was inputted into the programme this year. For the first time, a wristband initiative was taken; 100,000 wristbands were produced and these were given to those who made a donation.
The Association of Car Importers of Malta, which usually donates cars to the programme, this year decided it could not afford to give new cars to the programme to be given as gifts.
Mr Azzopardi said he respected the association's decision and thanked its members for the times they gave the cars. However, the organisers of l-Istrina found nine benefactors who bought a car each and these were to be drawn during the programme.
Besides the cars, another Lm250,000 worth of gifts ranging from electronic equipment such as iPods, PDAs, Playstations, and Plasma screens, to cruises and holidays - including an eight-day holiday for eight at the Radisson Golden Sands staying on the same floor used by the Sultan of Brunei during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting last month - will be distributed.
This year's l-Istrina has already netted Lm590,000 from the sale of the 59 BMWs used for CHOGM.
During the programme, a 100g pure gold ingot produced by Lombard Bank to mark CHOGM will be auctioned. The ingot bears the serial No. 3 from an issue of just three ingots.
Air Malta renews support
Air Malta has renewed its support for Caritas (Malta) and the L-Istrina 2005 campaign.
In a statement it said the airline was helping both organisations in their commendable social work among the local community. This support formed part of Air Malta's social responsibility programme for the Maltese community.
Caritas director Mgr Victor Grech and administrative secretary Anglu Fenech recently called on Air Malta chairman Lawrence Zammit.
Mgr Grech stressed Caritas' needs for public support in order to achieve all its goals.
Mr Zammit said that Air Malta will again contribute to the L-Istrina campaign.