|
It was a calm, warm, quiet early morning on Thailand's
southern island of Phuket-another typically magnificent
beach day. The island, however, would instead awaken
to the greatest tragedy the world has ever known. Not
only this island, but 11 countries would be affected
by the Indonesia based earthquake and its tsunami which
shook the entire world into disbelief on Dec 26th, 2004.
By now we all know the deadly and disastrous outcome
of the tsunami in Southeast Asia, where so many lives,
treasured personal possessions and livelihoods were
taken away in an instant. As of Jan 2005, it had claimed
over two hundred thousand lives, and thousands still
are unaccounted for.
This foundation started when Thailand's unofficial
ambassador to the US, PBS Celebrity Chef Tommy Tang,
wanted to find a way to care for the kids left behind.
After quickly gathering a group of amazing people, all
wanting to donate their talents, services, time and
MOST of all, their overwhelming concern for the future
of these children, it was decided to create a foundation
to supply long term physical and psychological support
to the survivors. Through the foundation, he would care
for these people on a long term basis. While many countries,
corporations and individuals rallied from all over the
globe with financial support and man power to help with
immediate needs of the people and to start the rebuilding
process, the big concern of this group was the future
of these children long after this event becomes remote
history. Nobody can ever take the place of the parents
they had lost, (approximately 1000 children so far are
affected -losing one or both parents in Southern Thailand)
but someone needed to address the day to day stresses,
psychological traumas, educational issues, love and
the nurturing of these children into young adulthood.
Tommy was going to find a way, and he has found it:
The Tsunami Children Foundation of Thailand.
|
This foundation will be active for at least the next
15-18 years in order to see these children grow and
to address possible future humanitarian needs which
might arise. There will be many fund raisers, as well
as this website to raise the monies needed.
The first of our fundraisers was MEALS FOR MIRACLES,
where 3500 Thai restaurants around the country will
donate at least 10% of their gross sales between March
26th -April 1st 2005. Please see the press release below
and a list of participating restaurants. We hope that
you will share our dream for their progress with us,
and we invite you to continue to support the effort
in anyway that you can. Tell your family, friends and
co-workers. Most importantly, let us not ever forget
this tragedy or these children when the next media event
occurs. They will need us for years to come, and we
intend to be there for them, won't you?
www.tsunamicf.org
www.letsgetcooking.org
PO Box 46700
Los Angeles, CA 90046
818 442 0219
818 782 1777 fax
|
