TORONTO -Alex Anne Budman and Deeva Green, along with their fathers, Roots Co-Founders Michael Budman and Don Green, are pleased to present the Canadian Red Cross with a cheque for more than $100,000 in support of tsunami relief efforts.
Compelled by the devastating events of December 2004, Alex Anne and Deeva put their energy and creativity together to create a collection of bracelets that were sold in Roots stores across Canada. The teenagers also took their sales skills to the streets, setting up a booth outside of Roots flagship store at 100 Bloor Street West. In addition, Alex and Deeva sold their bracelets through their own schools and networked with other kids to have them sold at several other schools. Through these efforts, the teenagers raised a total of $105,200 for this worthy cause.
“When we saw the news footage of the tsunami and the terrible loss that the people of South Asia suffered, we knew we had to do something to help,” says Alex Anne Budman.
“Last year, we created a bracelet campaign to help raise money for hurricane victims in Jamaica, so we decided to take that idea and create a similar fundraiser for the tsunami victims,” says Deeva Green.
With the help of their parents, and drawing on the resources of the Roots leather factory in Toronto, Alex Anne and Deeva produced more than 21,000 bracelets.
“We are both very proud of our daughters for the compassion and initiative they showed with this project,” says Don Green, Co-Founder of Roots. “It just goes to show what young people can do when they channel their energy in a positive and constructive way.”
The Canadian Red Cross helps people affected by conflict and disasters. Locally and internationally, Red Cross helps those most in need. Since the devastating tsunamis in December, Red Cross has helped over 800,000 people in South Asia with basic necessities such as shelter, safe food and drinking water, and medical care. Long-term recovery and rehabilitation programs are expected to last at least 10 years with projects such as job creation programs, rebuilding and re-equipping medical centres, and psychosocial support.
“The Red Cross relies on corporate and public donations to provide assistance during and following a disaster, as was the case following the hurricanes in the Caribbean and the tsunamis which devastated South Asia,” said Gord Moore, general manager of the Canadian Red Cross. “The creativity and initiative of Alex Anne and Deeva led to a project that truly made a difference in the lives of others.”
Alex Anne and Deeva are following in their fathers’ charitable footsteps, continuing Roots’ history of extensive community involvement and social responsibility.
Roots has long taken a leading role in environmental and social issues in Canada and beyond, supporting numerous environmental issues and children’s charities. These include Waterkeepers Alliance (www.waterkeeper.org), an organization headed by Robert Kennedy Jr. dedicated to preserving waterways in North America and around the world; and Right to Play (www.righttoplay.com), an international humanitarian organization committed to improving the lives of disadvantaged children and their communities through sport.
For more information about Roots, its core values, business philosophy and approach to social responsibility, please visit the About Us section.
The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 181 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Canadian Red Cross mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.
For more information on Canadian Red Cross’ efforts in Asia and local programs, please visit www.redcross.ca. |
