Dubai turns world's tallest building into coronavirus charity box

DUBAI - The world's tallest building, Dubai's 828-meter Burj Khalifa, has become a glowing charity donation box, raising money for food for United Arab Emirates residents suffering the economic impact of the new coronavirus pandemic.

Each of the tower's 1.2 million external lights was "sold" for 10 dirhams ($2.70), enough to buy 1 meal. As donations came in, the tower "filled up," and people could also bid to claim the light at the very top.

As the region's tourism and business hub with the world's busiest international airport, Dubai's economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

Many people have lost jobs or had incomes reduced. Tens of thousands of migrant workers, who often live in crowded shared accommodation where the virus spreads more easily, have registered to be repatriated.

"Hope you have a good solid meal. We take things for granted but life has a way of teaching us how to wake up," said donor Shereen Harris in a public comment on the campaign's website.

The UAE has recorded 19,661 cases of infection with COVID-19 and 203 deaths, the second highest death toll after Saudi Arabia of the 6 Gulf states.

The donation box has raised funds for more than 1.2 million meals so far, organizing body The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) said.

The fundraising drive is part of a campaign to fund 10 million meals for low-income families during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan by MBRGI, patronized by Dubai's ruler and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

-reuters-

Ara Mina bakes cakes, cupcakes for COVID-19 frontliners

MANILA – Since the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) has been declared in the entire Luzon, most people have been doing their own part in helping the COVID-19 frontliners -- whether by donating funds, goods or medical equipment, or just by staying at home to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.

For actress Ara Mina, she has been busy baking cakes and cupcakes which she sends to various hospitals here in Manila and in Pampanga, and even to military troops manning checkpoints.

“First week of ECQ, I was able to bake some cupcakes, cakes and we sent some food for our frontliners in Pasig Doctors Medical Center, AFP Medical Center, Angeles Pampanga Police Station 5 as well as police and military officers in San Mateo Rizal checkpoint. Just a little something for our heroes. Thank you to our frontliners, we salute you,” she wrote on Instagram.

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First week of ECQ, I was able to bake some cupcakes, cakes and we sent some food for our frontliners in Pasig Doctors Medical Center, AFP Medical Center, Angeles Pampanga Police Station 5 (near #Hazelberry in Pampanga 😊), as well as Police and Military Officers in San Mateo Rizal checkpoint. Just a little something for our heroes. Thank you to our frontliners, we salute you! 😍 . My partner @christineangela21 and I were also able to share some groceries to our employees. Thank God for providing🙏🏻 . Tulungan lang po tayo hangga’t sa makakaya. We’re giving our best effort. Donating also to some friends na nagreraise ng funds. Still thinking of how we can help pa while still working from home for @hazelberryofficial para kahit papaano may maitulong pa tayo sa ating kapwa. . We can do this everyone! 😍👍🏻 . #FightCovid19 #FrontlinersPH #AraCares #GTGFCares #HazelberryCares #AraMinaFoundation

A post shared by 💖 𝐀𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐚 💖 (@therealaramina) on Apr 13, 2020 at 9:21am PDT

Mina, who owns Hazelberry Café which has branches in Quezon City, Pasig City and Pampanga, also said she and her partner have not forgotten their own employees, to whom they gave some groceries.

“Tulungan lang po tayo hangga’t sa makakaya. We’re giving our best effort. Donating also to some friends na nagre-raise ng funds. Still thinking of how we can help pa while still working from home for Hazelberry para kahit papaano may maitulong pa tayo sa ating kapwa,” she said.

Although the current situation may be difficult for everyone, Mina said there’s nothing we can’t do if people will help each other.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

FB group 'SuperTsuper' comes to the rescue of out-of-work drivers

MANILA - The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has upended livelihoods, and the transport sector is among those bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Since mass transit in Luzon has been suspended, public utility drivers are not able to make a living, putting their lives hanging precariously in the balance.

But a group of University of the Philippines (UP) alumnae and students has come to the rescue of out-of-work drivers, through the Facebook group "SuperTsuper."

"It's just so heartbreaking to see the hardworking people who bring us to where we need to be everyday immobilized by the lockdown, so we wanted to help even in just a small way," Mariel Cunanan, one of the group's administrators, told ABS-CBN News on Thursday.

Cunanan and her friends created the Facebook group on March 31, and since then nearly 35,000 joined to help.

"What prompted this whole thing is seeing a lot of drivers on social media asking for even just 1 or 2 pesos from people on GCash to help them survive this lockdown," she said.

Through "SuperTsuper," drivers of jeepneys, tricycles and transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) could ask for donation from group members coursed through Globe's e-wallet service GCash.

Cunanan and other administrators strictly screen the PUV drivers to ensure their call for help are legitimate. They will be asked to provide their names, photos, addresses and name of their respective associations.

"Once posted, donors are free to donate to whoever they like, regardless of amount and how many people they want to give to," she said.

She added, "So the money doesn't really go through us -- the whole selling point of SuperTsuper is direct donations. No more middlemen so you know 100% of your money is going to someone in need. And it's also an avenue for donors and the tsupers to interact, humanizing the donation process because the donors will see the people whose lives they're touching talaga."

The donation varies from P20 to P2,000, Cunanan said.

One story that stuck with her was that of 63-year-old jeepney driver Eduardo Solis.

"He has 3 children and 6 dogs to feed, and it was a true testament to how sometimes those who have less have the most love to give," she said.

Since most seniors are not tech-savvy, Cunanan said she had to guide Solis on using social media.

"A lot of drivers are like this, very grateful to the donors and extremely kind. All of their stories are worth hearing talaga," she added.

In nearly 2 weeks, "SuperTsuper" has helped some 700 to 900 drivers all over the Philippines and will continue to do so as long as people are willing to donate.

"Give what you can because "not much" to us can mean everything to them," Cunanan said.

The Philippine government imposed an enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon, home to more than 50 million people, to arrest the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The same measure was imposed in many other areas in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Transport group Piston earlier said there were 500,000 jeepney drivers and 200,000 small jeepney operators affected by the lockdown.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Oprah Winfrey donates $10 million for coronavirus relief

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday she was donating $10 million to coronavirus relief efforts, including a new venture to help get food to vulnerable Americans during the coronavirus epidemic.

Winfrey, one of America’s richest and most influential women, made the announcement on her social media platforms.

“I am donating $10 million overall to help Americans during this pandemic in cities across the country and in areas where I grew up,” she said. Winfrey, 66, was born into poverty in Mississippi and raised in Milwaukee and Tennessee.

Part of the money will go towards the new initiative called America’s Food Fund, launched in conjunction with Apple Inc, the Ford Foundation, Laurene Powell Jobs and actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

It will help feed those most impacted by the coronavirus epidemic in America, including children who rely on school lunch programs, low-income families, the elderly, and individuals facing job disruptions.

“I still remember growing up with my mother in Milwaukee when we were all out of welfare and sometimes we needed assistance for our family just to survive. At times like this, so many more people are vulnerable,” Winfrey said.

She did not say where she would direct the bulk of her $10 million donation.

Winfrey made her announcement the same day as U.S. data showed that a record 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment last week.

Winfrey last month launched a weekly series on Apple’s new streaming service, Apple TV+, called “Oprah Talks COVID-19,” in which she speaks over video platforms with spiritual leaders and others about how to get through the crisis.

Winfrey, who ended her popular television talk show in 2011 after 25 years, signed a development deal with Apple in 2018 to produce original content for the streaming service.

Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Richard Chang

Kim, Kanye donate $500,000 to California wildfire relief efforts

LOS ANGELES - Kim Kardashian and Kanye West on Wednesday donated $500,000 to firefighters and victims of a massive Southern California wildfire that came close to destroying the celebrity couple's own multimillion-dollar mansion.

Kardashian, appearing on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," said she and West hired private firefighters to protect their home and others in their neighborhood in rural Calabasas, north of Los Angeles.

Kardashian, West, and their 3 children were among thousands of people forced to evacuate their homes during the 93,000-acre (37,635-hectare) Woolsey fire 2 weeks ago that spread into coastal Malibu, destroying 1,500 buildings and killing 3 people.

Kardashian, a businesswoman and star of reality show "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," said the flames "got to our gate. We are still not in our home now. The smoke, the smell is too intense."

She said the couple felt blessed at being able to hire private firefighters.

"Our house is right on the end of a big park," she said. "We were able to get private firefighters... and they saved our home and saved our neighborhood. I had them make sure they controlled every house on the edge, so it wasn't just our home."

Kardashian, West, and the rapper's fashion company Yeezy and sportswear company Adidas, which makes his sneakers, donated $400,000 to victims of the fire and to California firefighters.

They also donated a further $100,000 to firefighter Michael Williams, who fought the blaze in his neighborhood after narrowly escaping from his own burning home.

The Woolsey fire is now 93 percent contained. A separate fire in northern California destroyed more than 12,000 homes and businesses in the town of Paradise and killed 81 people. Another 700 are still unaccounted for almost 2 weeks after the blaze swept through the town, beginning on Nov. 8.

source: news.abs-cbn.com