€617,585 were raised yesterday during the New Year’s Open Day organised by Radio RTK for the Dar tal-Providenza in Siggiewi. This was the largest sum ever collected in fourteen annual editions. During the day, huge crowds filled the big tent in the parking lot of the Home. The Director, Fr Martin Micallef, thanked the hundred of volunteers who helped organise this Open Day, and most of all the Maltese people, including Maltese emigrants who generously gave their donations and who once again expressed their values of solidarity and generosity with the Dar tal-Providenza. Fr Martin said that the money collected will go a long way towards providing a better life to its residents.
During the day various representatives of ecclesiastical and civil authorities visited this fund-raising event: the President of Malta, Dr George Abela; the Speaker of the House, Dr Louis Galea; the Prime Minister, Dr Lawrence Gonzi; the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Joseph Muscat; the Archbishop, Mgr. Pawl Cremona; the Bishop of Gozo, Mgr. Mario Grech and Archbishop Emeritus, Mgr. Guzeppi Mercieca. They were presented with a limited edition print by Debbie Caruana Dingli commemorating the 100 anniversary of the birth of Mgr. Mikiel Azzopardi, the founder of Dar tal-Providenza.
The ‘live’ television broadcast started at 9.00am with Holy Mass from the chapel of the Home and continued till just after midnight when the total sum collected during the day was announced amidst the joy and celebrations of the organisers and volunteers. TVM, Education Channel 22, ONE TV, NET TV and Favourite TV broadcast long stretches of the 15-hour televised marathon which included entertainment provided by the top singers on the island, various entertainers and village bands that managed to create a festive family atmosphere.
Click on the photo to enlarge. The photos of the Archbishop’s events may be obtained from PHOTOCITY, Valletta. Tel: 21236723. Email: [email protected]