The Ram and McRae Chartered Accountants and Professional Services firm last Tuesday disbursed a total of $1.5 million to six charitable organisations for the Christmas season.
In a statement, the firm said those to benefit were the Uncle Eddie’s Home, the Dharm Shala, the Beacon Foundation, the David Rose Special Needs School, the Red Cross Children’s Convalescent Home and the Missionaries of Charity of New Amsterdam, which each received a cheque for a sum of $250,000 to go towards the furtherance of their respective operations.
The handing over ceremony took place at the offices of Ram and McRae at Waterloo Street, Georgetown.
“We applaud the work you are doing and we want you to do more (hence the donation). We hope that society will recognize your work and [on behalf of all of us here] we wish you all the best for the season and the New Year,” Managing Partner of the firm, Christopher Ram, was quoted as saying at the event.
Ram also hinted that the firm foresees making similar gestures in the future and to more charities, building on a practice that has been ongoing for years.
Pastor Gary Erskine, who represented the Dharm Shala, explained how such donations would aid the functions of these organisations. He noted that the Dharm Shala caters to those who have been rejected by society, including their own relatives, as a result of their mental illness, economic incapacity and even special needs. “The Dharma Shala has been in existence for over 100 years, its a private home and it is run as a charitable home and we take in the very poor without proper documentation, without birth certificate or ID but as long as they come to our gate we received them so we trust the father (God) that this donation goes a far way,” he was quoted as saying.
The statement added that other representatives briefly noted that the donation can be considered a blessing to their respective organisations as it will alleviate some of the needs that currently exist.
