Toronto Community Raises over $15,000 for Pakistani Flood Survivors

Update: Friday, October 22, 2010

heARTS for Pakistan raises an incredible $23,088* for Humanitarian Coalition

Dear Friends & Supporters of heARTS for Pakistan,

A BIG thank you for making heARTS for Pakistan a success!  Due to your generosity, our silent art auction & fundraiser, held on October 18th, raised an incredible $23,088*, in support of the Humanitarian Coalition members – CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec and Save the Children Canada.

View photographs of the event here.

By coming together under one banner, the Humanitarian Coalition members have been able to better assist the population of Pakistan, reducing fundraising costs and increasing the impact of Canadian donations where it is needed. Every dollar donated to the Coalition is tracked to ensure that it directly contributes to providing shelter, food and healthcare to those people worst affected by the crisis. For those of you who would like to support the Humanitarian Coalition’s ongoing flood relief efforts in Pakistan, you can still donate online here.

On behalf of our organizing committee, we thank you for helping to make a difference to such an important cause and we appreciate your commitment to the Pakistani people as they recover from this disaster and rebuild their future.

With appreciation,

Saba & Saman

heARTS for Pakistan, Co-Chairs

*Net raised: $17,948 + $5,140 matched by CIDA (for donations received in advance of Oct 3 deadline)

heARTS for Pakistan Article on The Daily Challenge blog

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Announcements

If you enjoyed heARTS for Pakistan, you may also enjoy other ART events that support flood relief efforts in Pakistan:

• Rumi Fest, Oct. 24: Rumi Fest features performances by: Coleman Barks with Brenda Muller on cello, Whirling Dervishes (Canadian Sufi Cultural Center) with sufi music, Sohbat by Anwar Khurshid and Amir Amiri. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the victims of the flooding in Pakistan (website)

• JoSH: Had a chance to meet Q, singer from popular fusion band, JoSH, at the heARTS for Pakistan event? JoSH has a new single and is donating proceeds to support flood relief efforts in Pakistan.  More details can be found on their website soon.

• heARTS for Pakistan Filmraiser, Nov. 18, 7:10pm: heARTS for Pakistan is partnering with Filmraiser to present the 7:10pm showing of Summerhood at AMC Yonge & Dundas. 30% of box office sales will go towards the Humanitarian Coalition’s flood relief efforts on behalf of heARTS for Pakistan (website)

Originally posted: Tuesday, October 19, 2010

heARTS for Pakistan successfully pledges support towards the worst humanitarian tragedy

Toronto, ON – Over 200 Torontonians came together at heARTS for Pakistan this Monday, October 18, 2010 at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, where over $15,000 was raised, with approximately $5000 matched by CIDA and the Canadian government, for survivors of the Pakistani floods which devastated the country back in August.

Partnered with the Humanitarian Coalition, heARTS for Pakistan, a silent art auction and fundraiser, successfully engaged the Toronto community and provided an opportunity for the arts community across Canada to collaboratively support international efforts to bring relief to victims of the floods in Pakistan.

The worst humanitarian tragedy of the decade according to the United Nations, the Pakistani floods have affected one-fifth of Pakistan and have left over 20 million people displaced. As governments around the world struggle to assist survivors of the floods, the UN has requested international donors to come together to raise the hundreds of millions of dollars now required in aid. The most vulnerable now face twin perils of hunger and disease as food supplies have been devastated and sources of clean water severely contaminated.

Among others, speakers at the event included Scarborough MP Jim Karygiannis, who has accompanied doctors to Pakistan since the floods and spoke about the heartfelt plea of the Pakistani people. He encouraged people to open their hearts and their wallets and in an impromptu on-stage bidding, collected $780 in donations in under five minutes, for the cause.

The silent art auction sold 70 of the generously donated art pieces, while providing the Toronto community a chance to bid on beautiful art work, serving as lasting reminders of an effort to help flood survivors re-build their lives in Pakistan, well beyond the event.

The night came together with special guest appearances by strong supporters of the arts including Toronto’s Deputy Mayor, Joe Pantalone; MP for Scarborough, Jim Karygiannis; Mrs Pakistan World, Tehmena Bokhari; Miss India Canada, Anchal Sharma; singer from popular pop/rock band JoSH, Q; along with community dignitaries, business leaders, and of course Canadian artists.

“A crisis can build a community and show us at our best. This is definitely the case for heARTS for Pakistan, who brought together volunteers, artists, sponsors and supporters to raise critically-needed funds for Humanitarian Coalition members’ Pakistan flood-relief efforts” said Humanitarian Coalition spokesperson, Denise Koulis. “The money raised by heARTS for Pakistan will save lives and help rebuild communities.”

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About H4PK: Building on the success of heARTS for Haiti in Vancouver, heARTS for Pakistan was a silent art auction and fundraiser held on Monday, October 18 at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, to raise money and awareness for the victims of the floods in Pakistan back in August. 100% of the proceeds went to support the Humanitarian Coalition’s flood relief efforts in Pakistan. For more information, please visit: www.hearts4pakistan.com

About Humanitarian Coalition: Four of Canada’s leading aid organizations have founded the Humanitarian Coalition: CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec and Save the Children Canada. The members of the Humanitarian Coalition work together to increase the impact of Canadian humanitarian responses and reduce administrative costs. For more information, please visit: www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca

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Event Photographs: http://picasaweb.google.com/hearts4pakistan/HeARTSForPakistan#