I just checked my email and got this from Paula and Ace Salu of Pacific Islands Council of Oregon on their fundraising efforts for Samoan disaster relief. I liked to say thank you also to many of my readers for attending the event and for those contributing in this time of need, even in hard times. The email is as follows:

Hello families and friends,

The preliminary numbers are in, and we raised over $9,000.00 dollars for the Samoa Tsunami Fundraising Relief Dinner…. Outstanding!! And people are still donating online and sending checks in the mail.

Paula and I could not have done it without your support. Thank you to all families and friends that donated to the silent auction and dinner. Also for your help in setting and clean up afterward, Thank you, thank you!

To everyone that attended and donated I wanted to say thank you very much for your support and generosity. To St. Philip Neri Catholic Church for the use of their facility and the community support they showed… Much alofa!

A Big fa’amalo to Noho for providing the food and entertainment and co-sponsoring our fundraising event. Bruddah, Mahalo nui Loa.

As I leave with a final thought, I’m reminded of a Samoan proverb ‘Ua o gatasi le futia ma le umele’ which means ‘we must be of one mind in the undertaking’. I believe that together we can make a difference.

Mahalo,

Paula and Ace Salu

If you would still like to contribute, please visit PICO or Noho Hawaiian Restaurant for more information.