The President yesterday published, for the first time, the list of beneficiaries of the €2.3 million worth of donations raised during the last L-Istrina charity marathon held on Boxing Day.

Each year, the list of chosen beneficiaries is publicised beforehand so donors would know who the money is going to, in the proportion that they would be receiving. But this year the list never featured in any of the news releases about the event or on the websites of L-Istrina or the Malta Community Chest Fund, which organises the marathon.

It was announced yesterday following a meeting between President George Abela, who heads the Fund, and the organisations earmarked to receive the money. Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations Kenneth Wain and the chairman of the Council of the Voluntary Sector, Robert Farrugia, both said in January that they had not been informed who the beneficiaries would be.

The MCCF, acting on advice from the Attorney General, had also refused to enrol with Prof. Wain's office. Although not compulsory, enrolment qualifies organisations to receive state funding and benefits, such as free airtime on TVM, as received by L-Istrina.

The list of beneficiaries is as follows: Fra Diego Home, Dar Pirotta, YMCA, Fondazzjoni Nazaret, the Malta Guide Dogs Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Group, the Mission Fund, Mid-Dlam għad-Dawl, Victim Support (Malta), Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem, Oratorju Don Bosco (Gozo), St Jeanne Antide Foundation, Caritas, Fondazzjoni Arka, Fondazzjoni Wens, Ursuline Sisters, Inspire, Malta Hospice Movement, Fondazzjoni Ħajja Indipendenti, Little Sisters of the Poor, Dar il-Kaptan, Equal Partners Foundation, Richmond Foundation, Fondazzjoni OASI, Physically Handicapped Rehabilitation Fund, Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus.