PRESS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	January 7 , 2005

BTF/UNICEF LAUNCH OPERATION COMPASSION - TSUNAMI RELIEF FUND

CALLS FOR CITY/COUNTY WIDE 2 MINUTES OF SILENCE ON JANUARY 14TH, 2005 (The day before MLK's birthday) to remember those who lost their lives and homes as a result of the Tsunami.

         BUFFALO, NEW YORK (Thursday, January 6, 20054) – The Buffalo Teachers Federation has, once again, joined with UNICEF to aid children in desperate need - this time for the children who have suffered from the Tsunami. The BTF previously worked with UNICEF to raise thousands of dollars and collect supplies for children in Kosovo, Rwanda, and Afghanistan.

Teachers and others, who wish, will be asked to "reach deep" and send their checks to BTF. Checks will be made out to U.S. Funds for UNICEF Tsunami Relief.

"The BTF is also asking residents of the City and County to observe two minutes of silence to remember those who lost their lives and who have been devastated by one of the worst natural disasters in history," said Phil Rumore, President of the Buffalo Teachers Federation. "We are also asking that churches ring their bells during the 2 minutes of silence at 9:00 a.m. on January 14th which is the approximate time the first wave hit land." According to the BTF, the quake first struck at 7:59 a.m. EST with the tidal waves hitting major landfall 1 - 2 ½ hours later." Mayor Masiello and Superintendent Hargrave are in support of the moment of silence.

BTF will also be circulating information to teachers from UNICEF relating how donations will be used, UNICEF programs and activities in South Asia, and how to locate information for use in their class from UNICEF's website, www.unicefusa.org/youthaction.

The drive will officially start on Monday, January 17, the day Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday is observed ("What better day," said Rumore), and end January 31st. Collection in schools will actively start on Tuesday when schools reopen.

"We have chosen to work with UNICEF because of our long standing relationship with them and to direct our donations to the children who are the ones that often suffer the most in tragic events like this. Our bond as teachers, as you would expect, is with children. Our hearts and prayers, however, go out to all those who are suffering from this horrendous tragedy."

For information on what the UNICEF donations will cover, please see attachments. (1, 2)