The Angostura Foundation donated $534,000 to the Credo Foundation For Justice yesterday.
The donation was made from proceedings collected at Angostura’s 200th-anniversary celebration and exclusive auction at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on September 14.
The Credo Foundation for Justice is a shelter for children traumatised by domestic, sexual and physical abuse.
In a ceremony in Port-of-Spain yesterday, Holy Faith Sister Juliet Rajah, of the Credo Foundation, said the donation was timely.
“Believe it or not, when I got the call from Ms Judy Kanhai, I had just finished the monthly accounts and I was asking God, ‘How long can we continue? What does the future hold for us?’ So, it was like a gift from heaven when I got the call and I heard that Angostura was doing the auction and we were the beneficiaries,” Rajah explained.
Speaking after the ceremony, Rajah said one of the foundation’s major expenses is paying the staff.
“We have a financial loss every month of $40,000. The Holy Faith Sisters in Ireland had helped us with a sizable donation but over the years it has dwindled. So we are at the point where we need to start getting money, otherwise we would not be able to keep the doors open,” she stressed.
Sister Rajah is appealing to corporate Trinidad and Tobago to assist the foundation.
“Our work is trying to produce law-abiding citizens who are educated, who can earn their keep, and who can live life like any other person,” she said.
She noted that the centre is equipped to hold 16 boys and 16 girls.
Angostura’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ian Forbes said the donation to Credo will make a significant impact on the young people there.
“This charity auction underscores the Angostura Foundation’s commitment to its social pillar, which focuses on integrating and harnessing family values, youth training, development, and sustainable community spaces to empower youth,” Forbes explained.
Coosal’s Group of Companies executive chairman Dr Sieunarine Coosal, who was the successful auction bidder for the Cusparia Rum and painting created by local artist Kibwe Loreilhe, said he was honoured to contribute to the cause and assist in making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.
“I believe charity with a purpose is a key takeaway, which will add to the fabric of our social structure and make a difference in the lives of the disadvantaged,” he said.