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Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 11:45 am
by anneporter
I am wondering….Since we raised so large a sum so quickly… Perhaps we could set up a foundation or "Hydra Island Support Fund" with the excess, and continue to accept donations in the future. Members could choose to create fundraising events, or donate small amounts from sales of Hydra- or Leonard-related art works, recordings, writings, concerts, etc, or simply money when visiting Hydra, as a way of giving something back to the island and islanders that welcome us so graciously. Or we could do something like charge 10 euro instead of 5 for our evenings at the cinema, with the extra going to the fund.
I participated in a similar initiative when I visited Skyros island last year. Much of the money raised went to heating the schools and old-age homes i winter when the government funds ran out. I know it gets cold and lonely on Hydra in the winter….

I have pasted some information about the Skyros initiative below:

The Skyros Island Support Fund . . .

Support Fund raises over €27,000 and fuel is now being delivered to schools ...

On Thursday 21st March 2013, sat before steaming cups of coffee and humming computers, the Skyros team sent out a newsletter announcing the new Skyros Island Support Fund – a charitable fundraising initiative with the specific aim of raising €20.000 for heating Skyros island's schools, clinic and nursing home during the winter of 2013 / 2014. This was established due to lack of funds as Greek government subsidies for the purpose have dried up.

Due to your generosity, we are delighted to announce that we have not only reached our target, but surpassed it too. The total raised is €27.018,41! We are, therefore, pleased to confirm that on Monday the 11th of November, the first instalment of fuel was delivered to the five schools on the island. This includes the nurseries and the primary and secondary schools. This cost a total of €5.090,40, leaving the fund still with €21.928,01. The next fuel delivery will be in January.

We are waiting to hear when fuel for the nursing home and clinic needs to be delivered. Next, we will be purchasing essential supplies for the local hospital. They have forwarded us a list of required materials at an approximate cost of €10.000. In the meantime, we are working closely with the local community to ensure that all funds raised go directly to where they are needed most, and that prices obtained ensure the funds go as far as possible.

Overwhelmed (in a good way) with your response, we would like to to say a massive efharistó (thank you) to everyone who contributed. You have truly helped make a difference for so many islanders this winter.


Here is the link:
http://theskyrosblog.blogspot.ca/2013/0 ... -best.html

Just a thought…

all the best to one and all,
Anne

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 8:55 pm
by uncleerwinone
Dear Jarkko,

like Olwen I was also under the impression, wrongly as it turns out, that the list of donor names would be posted online. The way it was done at previous occasions (70th, 75th birthday). Why the change? Here goes my only chance to be published. Oh well.

Ruth

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 10:02 pm
by rpan
I too think this could be an annual thing on a smaller scale.

Perhaps if the fund supports 2 or 3 local things this time along with the bench, the fund could be re-opened every year for the month before Sept 21 to gather top up funds and support a couple more things each year, the same ones or new needs on the island.

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:59 am
by Cheshire gal
rpan, that sounds like a very good idea.

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 8:59 am
by jarkko
Many of you have asked to see the card we sent to Leonard on his birthday.

Marie designed the card, and it's uploaded now to http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/80card.pdf(pdf file, 1 MB).
However, the list of names is not included in this public version. There were many who wanted to keep their names private. We promised to give the names to Leonard and print them in the photo book next summer; we would need to ask every donator for additional permission if we wanted to change this.

We are now closing also the PayPal account. The final number of contributors was 366, and we got 19 058.15 eur in total. Excellent outcome of this fine Project!

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 3:18 pm
by TommyJ
That is a fantastic achievement Jarkko, I am proud to have been part of it. Thank you for letting us know and thank you, once again, for everything you do.

Tom

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 9:15 pm
by holydove
Beautiful card!! Thank you to Marie for designing it & thanks to Jarkko for posting it. I love the colorful hummingbird sipping the flower, & it looks like the lovely lavender petals have heart-shaped centers. Really perfect. Thanks again.

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 11:31 pm
by Doris
I thought the same. It´s an absolute wonderful card, dear Marie. Thank you and Jarkko very very much for all you do.

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 11:20 am
by Jakob Skov
Hi there

I just transferred a small donation - I hope you haven't closed the account yet, since I prefer to see my donation going to the project rather than to an Irish bank.

Best of wishes - and thank you a million times,

Jakob

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 4:26 pm
by jarkko
Don't worry Jakob. We will get the donations. The project is in principle closed, but we have to keep the accounts until all the funds have been used, and it will take time.

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 5:56 pm
by MaryB
Marie - the card is perfect! I'm so glad that dar's sentiment was chosen.

Thank you so very much, Jarkko and Marie for taking on this huge project on our behalf and to Anne for coming up with the original idea!

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:31 am
by Jakob Skov
WOW - that is a magnificient card!! If I turned 80 and received such a card I would definately be very moved.

Fantastic - beautiful and very poetic. Great idea!

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 2:04 pm
by Janetld
Beautiful card, thank you Marie and
Jarkko.

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 3:44 pm
by Ingrid
Hi Jarkko,

I just donated my small contribution for The Leonard Cohen Bench.
Glad I joined.

Ingrid

Re: Leonard 80 years: Fund Raising for our Hydra Bench

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 2:31 am
by AlanM
The card is beautiful, Marie.
Congratulations on your artistic talent, and many thanks to you, Jarkko and the others for organising this project.

Alan