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Good friends, good cause, good Samaritinis

Published:Sunday | October 3, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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From left: Jaap and Lineke Van Dam, Natasha James and Giorgio rusconi at the event, 'An Evening in Support of the Good Shepherd foundation', at the Coyaba Beach Resort, Montego Bay last Friday night.
'Good Samaratini' Veena Chandiram (left) poses with Half Moon's Rob de Bekker and his fiance Yineidi Gomez.
From left: Kevin and Joanne Robertson, Phillipp and Fernanda Hofer, Denny and Veena chandiram, and Mark and Candace Hart, get the group shop
Pretty Jody HoLung smiles for the camera.
Houseboat's Scott and Andrea Stanley make a cosy pair.
From left: Kathy Marley and husband Robert Ames, Sophia Max-Brown and richard Russell enjoy each other's company.
Jeannie Robinson Foster (left) of the Good Shepherd Foundation and Petra-Ann Williamson at an event in support of the foundation.
Philomena Eberhardt (left) and Nerissa Braimbridge are out for an 'Evening in Support of the Good Shepherd Foundation'.
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Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:  Abandoned and disabled children who have found solace at the Blessed Assurance home, Windsor Lodge, St James, are among the beneficiaries of the $1.5 million raised by the 'Good Samaritinis' last Friday night at their annual fund-raiser.

Playing on the term "Good Samaritans", Montego Bay power couples, Denny and Veena Chandiram, Mark and Candace Hart, Kevin and Joanne Robertson and Philipp and Fernanda Hofer, raised the much-needed funds for several charities that fall under the Good Shepherd Foundation umbrella.

Adopting the theme, 'Good Friends, Good Cause, Good Samaritinis', the eight invited their close friends numbering 120 people, to donate $7,500 each to party and drink apple martinis on the boardwalk of the Coyaba Beach Resort, Montego Bay.

12 per cent increase

With no hard selling or prompting allowed at the event, friends of the Samaritinis had a choice of red and green apples attached with a tag representing gifts/donations of varying dollar amounts - the lowest being a bag of diapers for $450.00 and the highest $115,000 for a commercial washing machine.

The most popular apples were 'lunch money for a foster child for a month', valued at $4,500; and cooking gas for one of the homes, at a cost of $6,500 per month. At the end of the evening, the Samaritinis sold over $400,000 on the apples and $1 million on the tickets. "A 12 per cent increase over last year, which is fabulous," said Joanne Robertson.

For Veena Chandiram, it is very easy to do this project. "We know where the money goes. We know that it is being spent in the right way, helping to change the lives of many people, namely children," said Mrs Chandiram.

The Good Shepherd charities will benefit from the event are the Hope Hospice for the Dying; Jacob's Ladder, a farming village for handicapped adults; Widow's Mite Home for abandoned children; Holy Family Self-Help Skills Centre; The Brenda Stafford Medical and Sacred Heart clinics.


janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com