In the devastating wake of Superstorm Sandy, the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) will host an International Aid for Humanity event in New York City’s Times Square at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.
The Philippines-based church’s charitable arm, the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation (FYMF), will make a total of $150,000 in donations to the New York City Police Foundation, the Fire Department of New York Foundation, Bellevue Hospital Center and Coney Island Hospital — all of which were adversely affected by the storm. In addition, Church volunteers will hand out “goodwill bags” containing survival essentials to the homeless and others in need.
“These humanitarian gestures are more than an act of kindness and generosity from the members of our Church,” explained Dr. Sergie P. Santos, III, spokesman for the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation. “It represents a fundamental belief of our faith, which is to help our fellow man.”
FYMF says their choice of Times Square stems from its global recognition. The event aims to boost morale locally and nationally by providing help as well as hope.
FYMF has already conducted four relief missions from Nov. 10-12 benefiting more than 7,600 people in New York and New Jersey. The International Aid for Humanity event is designed as a public kickoff of future charitable activities by FYM throughout the metro area and the nation. It is estimated that there were 46,000 homeless people in New York City prior to the storm, which has left many more residents out in the cold.
“When disasters, hurricanes and other calamities strike, we want to give our humble contribution to New Yorkers by being an institution that promotes love, positivity and kindness,” added FYMF’s Dr. Santos.
The Aid for Humanity event on Broadway Pedestrian Plaza, between 46th and 47th Streets in Times Square will be attended by representatives from the following organizations:
- Office of the Mayor — Commissioner Fatima Shama and Maria Cruz Lee, Dept. of Immigrant Affairs
- New York City Police Foundation — Susan Birnbaum, President; Gregg Roberts, Executive Director; Judith Dynia, Program Director
- FDNY Foundation — Jean O’Shay, President; Susan Wipper, Director
- New York Health and Hospitals Corporation — Joe Schick and Tamiru Mammo
- Philippine Mission to the United Nations — Ambassador Libran Cabactulan
- Philippine Consulate General in New York — Ambassador Mario DeLeon; Theresa Dizon-deVega, Deputy Consul General; Felipe Carino, Consul
