Helping those in need at home and abroad
Charities helping those people most in need in Belgium and abroad received a record total of €188 000 at the annual donation ceremony of the NATO Charity Bazaar (NCB) on Monday 28 January. For the second year in a row, the funds were distributed to 26 different charities, eight of which are based in Belgium.
A non-profit organisation, the NCB started 44 years ago and raises funds throughout the year, culminating in the Christmas charity bazaar. In the coming year, a car boot sale will be introduced to the calendar of fundraising events.
“We will use the money to renovate a former monastery to provide studios for autistic adults living in our care,” says Patricia Hamelrÿck, Director of Belgian charity De Okkernoot, which received €10 000 this year.
“We are one of the few charities working with autistic adults, and we have expanded to meet the growing demand,” Hamelrÿck explains. The Flanders-based charity will shortly see the number of adults in its care grow from 54 to 80.
Over €1 million donated
Since 2005 the NCB has donated over €1 million to some 200 Belgian and international charities covering issues such a child care, education, adult care facilities and disabled access.
This year’s donation ceremony was attended by Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow and Mrs Anne-Mette Rasmussen, who, alongside the NCB President, handed out the cheques to charity representatives.
“The Christmas charity bazaar is traditionally an extremely popular social event, and an occasion where the whole of the NATO community comes together,” says Mrs Rasmussen. She was also on hand to donate €4000 from the proceeds of the NATO Christmas Charity Ball, an initiative she established, to the NCB’s fundraising efforts.
“Maybe years ago people thought the Bazaar was old fashioned, but when you know what it is about, and what it does, you can see NATO is a community working together for peace and helping those in need at home and abroad,” adds Mrs Rasmussen.
“I’m really proud to be involved in this,” adds NCB President Susanne Christtreu. “The donation ceremony is a celebration of a whole year’s work.”