The Prem Rawat Foundation donates to the Red Cross for landslide victims

Manila, Philippines— The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) donated US$25,000 to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) to assist the affected families of the massive landslides that hit the village of Guinsaugon in Southern Leyte in early February 2006. The contribution was used to purchase food supplies for two months to 190 families living in Catmon Evacuation Center. On February 17, after weeks of incessant monsoon rain, massive landslides struck Guinsaugon burying hundreds of houses and an elementary school packed with students in deep mud. The death toll reached 52, with over 900 persons still missing. PNRC chairman Richard J. Gordon, who together with daughter Marnie Sambalino made the donation possible, said, "With the help of generous donors like the Prem Rawat Foundation, the PNRC has successfully provided the emergency needs of the most vulnerable, those with no choice but to live in evacuation centers." The PNRC has been leading the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Guinsaugon since the landslides left thousands of residents homeless and forced to take shelter in evacuation centers until now. The construction of the 65 duplex units known as the "Red Cross Village," one of the ongoing housing projects of PNRC in Guinsaugon, will be completed early next year and turned over to 130 beneficiaries. TPRF, committed to help improve the quality of life of people in need, has initiated other humanitarian programs in Côte d'Ivoire, Grenada, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Niger, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United States, among others.

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Manila, Philippines — A generous donation was made by The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) to provide continuing aid to survivors of the massive landslide that hit the village of Guinsaugon in eastern Philippines earlier this year. This donation will provide nutritious food packs for two months to all 190 families living in the Catmon Evacuation Center in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte.

Gwendolyn Pang, PNRC Director of Fund Generation and Executive Assistant to the Chairman, said: “It is in the generosity of our partners like TPRF that we draw our strength in serving the most vulnerable.”

From Marnie Sambalido, daughter of PNRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon: “On behalf of my father, the Philippine National Red Cross, and the people of Leyte, I thank you for your generosity and eagerness to help. The town of St. Bernard experienced such a devastating calamity, as you know, and is really in great need. Your donation will be put to good use.”

Following weeks of heavy monsoon rain, a massive landslide hit, burying hundreds of houses and a school packed with elementary students under four meters of mud in Southern Leyte. There were only 410 recorded survivors from Guinsaugon’s original population of approximately 1,500 people. Additionally, people from six other villages were evacuated from their homes due to imminent threats from unstable hillside foundations.

Today there are still over a thousand families displaced from their homes and living in evacuation centers. Due to the continued danger of repeated mudslides, these people cannot return to their villages and have not yet found new homes. At this time, food and water are the priority for these people. The donation from TPRF will help PNRC in providing these basic food needs.

The Prem Rawat Foundation furthers the message of peace of Prem Rawat, known also as Maharaji, and helps improve the quality of life for people most in need. Recently, the Foundation’s efforts have brought disaster relief and food aid to people in Côte d’Ivoire, Grenada, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Niger, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the United States, and now the Philippines. In a tribal area of northeastern India, the Foundation opened “Food for People,” a 10,000-square-foot permanent facility where 45,000 meals are served each month to villagers. This project is one of many spearheaded by Prem Rawat and his Foundation in an effort to bring basic necessities such as food, water, and adequate medical care to those in need around the world.

To discover more:  TPRF.ORG   Source: The Prem Rawat Foundation (310) 392-5700