SVG Outreach makes donations

The old saying “It is far better to give than to receive” was proven true, as the president of SVG Outreach Organisation Inc (California), Phyllis Bacchus-Tillett, jubilantly handed over cheques of EC$1000 to ten local organisations. The presentation was made at Sky Blue Apartments & Restaurant on Tuesday, April 22, in the presence of extremely grateful organisation members and other interested persons.{{more}}

The SVG Outreach Organisation donated the proceeds of an entire year spent hosting fund-raising dinners, barbeques and other events to the following local organisations: Lions Club (Kingstown), House of Hope Society, SVG Basketball Federation, School for Children with Special Needs, Liberty Lodge, Salvation Army, St. Benedicts’ Nursery & Infant Hospital, Keartons’ United Sports Club, Rotary Club South and St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Bacchus-Tillett has also donated personal items to the Children’s Ward of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. Also present was retired Superior Judge Alban Niles. Originally from the Town Hill area, Niles now resides in the U.S.A and is the Honorary Consulate for Florida, Georgia and North & South Carolina. He congratulated Bacchus-Tillett on her tireless efforts to raise funds and further commended her on personally distributing the money raised, so as to avoid it going astray.

Bacchus-Tillett also expressed her disappointment at the contributions of the Vincentian Diaspora in California. Whilst acknowledging that the Diaspora population was not great, she spoke of the difficulties she usually encounters when requesting assistance from them for the organisation’s fund-raising activities. On the positive side, she related: “…We have strong support from Vincentians living in San Diego”. Bacchus-Tillett made special mention of the organisation’s biggest supporter in California – Vincentian businessman Carlyle Glasgow.

Founded in 2004, Phyllis Bacchus-Tillett has been the president of the organisation since its inception. Other board members include Julian Belgraves (Vice-President), Brenda Martin (Treasurer) and Natasha Bullock-Odera (Secretary). Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT, Bacchus-Tillett could not hide her excitement as she spoke of the organisation receiving a 501c tax identification number from the American government. This number enables big companies to donate large sums of money to charitable organisations and have it written off as a tax deduction.

She is determined to bring a larger sum of money with her next year. The organisation also appeals to younger Vincentians, living in the California area, to join their cause because they need ‘fresh blood’ to keep the organisation going.

Should anyone wish to join or make contact with the organisation, Phyllis Bacchus-Tillett can be contacted at phyllisbacchus@sbcglobal.net. Her postal address is 1728 W. 51st, Los Angeles, California 90062 and she can also be contacted at (323) 294 9382 or (323) 804 9382.(JSV)