Friday October 26, 2012

Grant wishes of needy kids

Roaring start: Lim (in yellow t-shirt) posing with superbiker volunteers at the launch of the ROLF Gold campaign. — RAYMOND OOI / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: It is that time of the year again to grant children's wishes through the Rainbow of Life Forces (ROLF) Gold Ribbon campaign.

The campaign, which is in its fourth year running, aims to fulfil the wishes of almost 500 underprivileged children from several homes as well as those who come from poor families that earn less than RM600 a month.

ROLF founder Adelyn Lim said most of the children had asked for new clothes and shoes as well as books, dictionaries, and secondhand computers to help them with their school work.

“We want to help grant the wishes of children. Many a time, contributions to orphanages are seldom what the children need. Sometimes, the storerooms of these homes are full of things the children do not need such as instant noodles.

“We also want to help children who come from impoverished backgrounds such as this child in Penang who lives with her aunt and goes hungry in school, or survives the entire day with a hard-boiled egg, as they do not have enough money,” she said at the launch of ROLF: The Fourth Gold Ribbon Campaign Grant a Wish on Universal Children's Day here yesterday.

The gifts would be handed over to the homes and organisations on Nov 24, Nov 25 and Dec 2, both in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

A major party, she said, would be held on Nov 25 at 11am at the Ti-Ratana Welfare Society in Salak South Baru and would involve about 150 children.

Lim also cautioned the public not to fall prey to those who use the ROLF name to collect funds at shopping malls or at other areas, adding that they do not carry out fundraising campaigns in public.

“The campaign focuses on donations of kind and is cash-free. We also tell our donors not to give cash to the children or caretakers,” she added.

Buddhist Maha Vihara chief high priest of Malaysia and Ti-Ratana Welfare Society founder Most Ven. Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana encouraged all Malaysians to do their part for charity and hoped they would come forward and support the project.

The Star is the official media partner for ROLF 4th Gold Ribbon Campaign. To Grant a Wish, log on to http://www.rolfcommunity.org.

News

Friday October 26, 2012

Grant wishes of needy kids