By NAN Staff Writer
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Oct. 13, 2017: Over 30 Caribbean Diaspora media entities and organizations locked arms Saturday for what was dubbed simply as the ‘Caribbean Day Of Giving’ to help victims of Hurricanes Irma and Maria across the islands ravaged by the mega storms.
And so far, according to one of the organizers, Irwine Clare, Sr., speaking on Irie Jam radio, the one-day effort helped raised over US $45,000 and donations are still being tallied from online and social media contributions.
The funds will benefit The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, (CDEMA), which works directly with the disaster management agencies in the various countries to help real victims.
While some of the region’s more famous sons and daughters, including Rihanna and Nicki Minaj have so far largely ignored the Caribbean’s plight, Jamaican singers Nadine Sutherland, Shaggy, Richie Stephens, Tarrus Riley, DJ Mr Vegas, Bugle, D’Angel, Sophia Brown and gospel artist Jermaine Edwards were all part of the musical ambassadorial corps of the event on Saturday, October 7th, 2017.
In New York, the event kicked off at 8 a.m. Saturday morning at the Door Restaurant in Queens, NY. Radio hosts then picked up the coverage from the Dumplin Shop in the Bronx from 1-6 p.m.
Irie Jam Radio in New York dedicated a 5-hour block of programming on WVIP, 93.5 FM to broadcast the radiothon to listeners in the Tri-state area while in South Florida, Hi Class Promotions in Florida was also able to broker a deal with WAVS 1170 in Florida for a Caribbean Day of Giving Public Service Announcement (PSA) to air on the station. Meanwhile, Groovin Radio in New York also facilitated interviews with stakeholders and assisted in getting the PSA to air on WVIP, 93.5 FM.
The Day of Giving partnered with three charities that collected donations on its behalf including the: America Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI), American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization Relief Fund.
Persons can still donate here today.
