More than €2.4 million in donations collected during last year’s Boxing Day fundraiser L-Istrina – a record – were yesterday handed out to 30 charities.
Today is a day for celebration- President Abela
The beneficiaries included the Malta Community Chest Fund, that organised the event, and 29 other voluntary organisations that work to help vulnerable people in Malta and overseas.
“Today is a day for celebration, not only for the beneficiaries and volunteers who work to make L-Istrina happen but also for all those who gave donations, as they can see where their money is going,” President George Abela, who chairs the MCCF, said.
Last year’s collection included almost €1.4 million in cash donations, €700,000 in telephone donations and €250,000 in SMS donations.
Franco Masini, the chairman of the board that selects the beneficiaries, said it took a while to process pledges and accounts, which explained why donations collected last December were only handed to beneficiaries yesterday.
The board was in the process of issuing applications for organisations that wanted to benefit from funds collected this year.
Fabian Mizzi, one of L-Istrina’s organisers, said that this year, for the first time, the event will take place at Verdala Palace in Buskett. The public will be invited to join during the fundraiser and visit the grounds under restoration.
Dr Abela yesterday also unveiled the accounts for the MCCF for the year ending March 2011. The fund received just over €2.5 million in contributions that included money collected through L-Istrina, fundraising events and donations.
The fund spent €875,900 on helping people and society and €754,000 in overseas assistance, medical treatment and special equipment. The MCCF ended its financial year with a surplus of €791,346 compared to €879,571 the previous year.
Beneficiaries for L-Istrina 2010 included St Jeanne Antide Foundation, Standing Towards Ability not Disability, Ejjew Għandi, The Ghana Mission Foundation, Daughters of the Sacred Heart Congregation, St Joseph Home, Richmond Foundation, Fondazzjoni Wens, Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem, Dar Pirotta, Millennium Chapel, Equal Partners Foundation, Foundation for Respite Care Services, Caritas, SOS Malta, Malta Red Cross Society, Jesuit Refugee Services, The Malta Guide Dogs Foundation, Sisters of Charity, Living Ability Not Disability, Angela House, Dar Sagra Familja, Amputees for Amputees, Grupp Gwardjola, Ċentru Pastorali Ragħaj it-Tajjeb, Dar Osanna Pia, Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus and Victim Support Malta.