Euro 490,000 and In-Kind Donations of Euro 56,000 Raised For Flood VictimsA telethon organized by Realitatea TV and UNICEF, with the support of Romtelecom and Romsilva, has so far raised more than Euro 490,000 and in-kind donations of Euro 56,000 for the people affected by floods. The cash and the goods donated will help the affected people in Moldova and Maramureş to recover from the floods. The event was attended by national and international personalities who expressed their solidarity for the victims. The telethon is part of the “Romania Takes Roots” campaign, which will continue during the next month. President Traian Băsescu declared during the event that water and canned food are no longer needed and made an appeal for in-kind contributions such as furniture, construction materials, refrigerators, cooking stoves, shoes, and school supplies for children. He also stated that the solidarity of the community is essential for the rehabilitation of the affected areas as the support of the Government is no longer enough. The President declared his intention to buy from his own funds construction materials for the reconstruction of an old woman’s home. Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu also expressed his support for the initiative and declared that he will contribute 30 trees and will donate one month’s salary for the affected children. The 4-hour event was hosted by Mihai Tatulici and Andreea Marin Bănică, Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in Romania and was supported, among others, by Sorin Oprescu, Mayor of Bucharest, ex-gymnast Andreea Răducan and director Sergiu Nicolaescu, sports commentator Cristian Ţopescu, fashion designer Cătălin Botezatu, actors Manuela Hărăbor and Ion Dichiseanu, businessman George Copos, artists Johnny Răducanu, Andra, Tudor Chirilă, Ştefan Bănică jr. and Zoli (Sistem), cabinet ministers Ludovic Orban, Adrian Iorgulescu, Lazlo Borbely, Cristian David, Cristian Adomniţei and Paul Păcuraru, politicians Elena Udrea, Marian Vanghelie, Andrei Chiliman, Gheorghe Funar, Cristian Boureanu and his wife Valentina Pelinel, the UNICEF Representative in Romania Edmond McLoughney, the American Ambassador in Bucharest Nicholas Taubman, the members of the band Iron Maiden, and also by the team of anchors of Realitatea TV. Several donations came from companies which wanted to support the victims of the floods: Distrigaz Sud, Grupul E.ON, Pampers, Romtelecom, Vodafone Foundation, Dufa Deutek, Amway, BRD, Raiffeisen Bank, and Orange. “Romania Takes Roots” campaign will continue for a month. In this period, the phone lines and the SMS number will remain open for donations. People can donate by calling the Romtelecom numbers: 0900.900.120 (Euro 10/call) and 0900.900.125 (Euro 5/call), by sending an SMS to the short number 879 (Euro 2/sms in the networks of Orange and Vodafone and Euro2/sms + VAT in the Cosmote network) or directly in the UNICEF account open with BRD. Realitatea TV also initiated an afforestation campaign for the areas affected by floods. Under the tag-line “Children plant the future”, 1 million trees donated by Romsilva will be planted to help prevent similar flooding in the future.
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