Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1321294
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 DECEMBER 2020 NEWS Over €2.3 million in telethon cash raised by parties in 2020 COVID-19 affects fund-raising efforts but millions already collected by political parties and charities PAUL COCKS POLITICAL parties raised around €2.3 million during fund-raising marathons organ- ised so far in 2020, while the country struggled to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and the austerity measure intro- duced to curb its spread. The Labour Party has so col- lected €1,352,813 compared to the €922,570 raised by the Na- tionalist Party in opposition. The PL raised the funds dur- ing two events – in June and December. A third 'unofficial' fund-raiser was organised by ONE TV programme Pjazza in March, where another €46,252 were collected by Pjazza and donated to the party. The PN organised three mar- athons: in June, October and December. In its event on 30 June, the PN raised €290,820 in donations. On 11 October, a mere week after Bernard Grech re-placed Adrian Delia as party leader, €307,300 were collected in a televised marathon. And on 6 December, the PN raised a further €324,450 in a third fund raising event, also aired live on Net TV. The PL organised its first of- ficial fund-raising marathon of the year between 15 and 21 June, when it managed to col- lect €615,123. Confusion soon ensued, when MEP candidate Arnold Cassola, two days later, asked the Electoral Commis- sioner to investigate reports that the Captain Morgan com- pany – contracted by the gov- ernment to host asylum seek- ers out at sea – had donated €108,000, or 17% of all funds collected. In reply, Captain Morgan said the company had donated €3,000, which is within the le- gal limit allowed, and that the rest of the money was collected by the Naxxar PL committee. Cassola noted that for the 40 days prior to the fund-raiser, Captain Morgan had been paid €3,000 a day by the government for the provision of vessels to host immigrants saved at sea while the ports were closed as part of the measures intro- duced to combat the spread of COVID-19. On 13 December, the PL raised a further €737,690 dur- ing a marathon at party HQ in Hamrun. More than €104,000 were collected in Gozo and €94,790 were presented by PL Naxxar President Duminku Chircop. A further €46,252 were raised during ONE talk- show Pjazza, bringing the total collected by the PL to €1,399,065. The programme accepted donations through phone and SMS, but host Karl Stagno Navarra also visited six party clubs – in Paola, Zejtun, Marsaxlokk, Naxxar, Rabat and Victoria, Gozo – where special fund-raising activities were or- ganised. Fund-raising at risk Malta's biggest fund-raising event L-Istrina, held each year on Boxing Day, last year raised €6,214,190, leaving President George Vella in tears at the generosity shown by the public. In 2018 the 12-hour telethon organised in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foun- dation, had raised a record €7,134,036. But COVID-19 has cast a gloom on expectations this year, as many events – organ- ised throughout the year in aid of L-Istrina – had to be can- celled due to social distancing measures introduced to com- bat the virus. This led Vella to organised a second L-Istrina event on 19 September, 'Let Us Help You', when over €1 million in dona- tions was raised. During the telethon, Presi- dent George Vella spoke about the increased need for do- nations. "COVID should not eliminate the need for people to contribute to the fund, be- cause the fund will continue to help," he said. Due to the restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, fund-raising events like Rockestra had to be cancelled and this has drasti- cally decreased the income for the MCCFF. Vella also faced criticism after hosting the traditional August Moon Ball on 1 August, just a day after health minister Chris Fearne introduced a number of restrictions of mass events fol- lowing a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases. The annual gala charity event is organised by the President at the Verda- la Palace to raise funds for the Community Chest Fund Foun- dation. Another major fund-raising effort – a volleyball marathon organised each year in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza – was also cancelled in July because of COVID-19. Instead, Id-Dar tal-Providenza launched a mar- athon which will run into the beginning of 2021, called 'Sa- biħ li Tagħti', in order to raise funds. The home needs around €5 million in operational mon- ey annually. Costs this year took a further €60,000 hit due to measures taken to safeguard and protect the residents and workers from COVID-19. Dar Bjorn, set up by Bjorn Formosa to care for people with ALS and other neurological conditions, raised €1,436,955 on 27 September. The funds collected were earmarked for a second care home in Zebbug. On 13 November, Caritas Malta raised €668,200 in a marathon televised on all ma- jor local TV stations and called 'Maratona ta' Mħabba'. During the event, social ac- commodation minister Rod- erick Galdes announced that an old house in Naxxar would be converted into a number of apartments as a halfway house for rehabilitated persons with no accommodation available. Caritas Malta raised €668,200 during a telethon on 13 November 2020 Above: PN leader Bernard Grech and other party officials celebrate at end a fundraising telethon on 6 December during which the party collected €324,450 in donations Left: Prime Minister Robert Abela, with his wife Lydia and daughter Giorgia Mae made an appearance during a PL fundraiser on 13 December