The Arijah Children’s Foundation has been very busy since the ‘Beautiful Party for a Beautiful Cause’ successfully launched its vision to the general public in Anguilla. To date they have raised $41,000 through individual donations and fundraising efforts.

Founder of the Foundation Renuka Harrigan (also mother of Arijah who the foundation is named after) says “We thank everyone who has supported us or shown interest in the Foundation so far and wish to assure you all we have not been resting on our laurels. Since we begun fundraising we have made great strides, and are delighted to be able to report that in January we commence specialized teaching to 3 special needs children. These children will work with a dedicated teacher 3 times a week and we expect them to experience play therapy, social interaction, and communication building. This is the important first step for the foundation. Our plans are now to begin work in earnest to provide a permanent physical home for the Foundation – in order to realize our vision to help special needs children in Anguilla to live the way they were born to live. This physical home will be called ‘The Blossom Centre’ and we are delighted to announce we have been given the commitment of the Government of Anguilla towards land upon which to house the centre.”

The Arijah Foundation has a very energized Board of Directors and Marketing Committee who are determined to ensure the Foundation realizes its vision as soon as possible and met recently to agree their fundraising strategy for the Blossom Centre. In order to build and staff the Centre (for it’s initial year) the Foundation will need to raise funds of approximately $388,000. Renuka is hoping this figure can be made significantly lower through donations of materials and labour and is in negotiation with local and foreign contractors and would like to encourage persons or businesses interested in making such a donation to contact the Foundation.

Sylvia Landry of Shoal Bay Development a passionate supporter and member of the Marketing Committee has offered the Shoal Bay Sales Centre as a venue for a Christmas Party on Saturday 13th December in aid of the Blossom Centre. More information and tickets about this event will be available shortly. Sylvia and the Marketing Committee will be out and about in the community encouraging ticket sales and contributions to this enjoyable pre Christmas Fundraiser. Sylvia says “This is a great opportunity to update everyone on what The Foundation has achieved in it’s first 6 months and have a good old fashioned Christmas Party for a very good cause’.

Other fund raising activities for the Foundation include the sale of beautiful personalised Greetings Cards for Christmas (designed by local children); a range of attractive t-shirts; a donors ‘club’ that will allow individuals who want to get involved to actively ‘sponsor’ a child to attend one of the programmes or provide donations to the Blossom Centre; and of course what the team hope will be an annual event in the Anguilla Social Calendar “A Beautiful Party for a Beautiful Cause” to take place once again during the Easter Period.

Pam Webster, a member of the Foundations Board says; “Renuka and her volunteer team have achieved marvels in a very short time. We are already helping special needs children – that means we have the basics in place and now we have to make sure the full vision is realized. We need both the local community and our wonderful visitors to recognize the importance of this charity and come forward with donations and support. Please come to our events, buy our merchandise and help us make the Blossom Centre and the Foundations vision a reality.’

For more information or to donate to the Foundation please contact Renuka Harrigan on 497 5729 or email her on info@arijahchildrensfoundation.org . Tickets will be on Sale for the Christmas Party and Raffle next week.

The Arijah Children’s Foundation of Anguilla