Representatives from four local charitable organizations recently traveled to Bangkok to attend a ceremony where they were recognised for their work with the underprivileged here on the Eastern Seaboard.
Three well known Pattaya institutions, the Father Ray Foundation, Human Help Network and the Fountain of Life, together with the Camillian Social Center in Rayong were presented with certificates from the Giving Back Association in recognition of their work.
Father Chaisak from the Camillian Center Rayong received a donation from Richard Han.
The Giving Back Association is a non-profit organisation that reviews charities, large and small, throughout Thailand. It grades each charity according to the way it uses the money given by donors and also the way each organisation is run.
Gold stars are awarded for excellence in the field of financial efficiency and good governance and all four local organizations received five stars from an independent reviewer; the charities have no input in the reviews.
Radchada from the Human help Network with two of the youngsters who benefit from the charity.
The review of each charity, which is available to the public on the Giving Back Association website, gives an overview of the charity, as well as a brief history and recent financial reports.
Terry Weir presented Father Peter of the Father Ray Foundation with a certificate.
The Giving Back Association website is used by many potential donors seeking a suitable organisation to make a donation to. Donors nowadays want to know where their money will be going, who will benefit and they also want to know that their donation will be going to help the people it should be helping; they want to know that their money is going to the right place.
Sister Apinya of the Fountain of Life received a donation from the Vice President of HANA Microelectronics.
The ceremony took place at the headquarters of HANA Microelectronics PLC where the Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO, Richard Han, presented a donation to several charities listed on the Giving Back website.
The charities also received certificates from Terry Weir, founder of Giving Back, each of which proudly show the five gold stars that each of the local charities deserve.
The blind students from Pattaya provided the entertainment.
There are many charities in the local Pattaya area, most doing wonderful work, but there are also those who may not be as honest as the rest and who seem to be more interested in collecting money, no matter what they do or say to get it. Unfortunately these bad charities give the good ones a bad name, but the Giving Back website will give you all the information you need, and if you are still skeptical about giving money to a charity, pick up the phone and make an appointment to visit one and see for yourself how your money is being spent.
Giving Back reviews of the local charities can be found at www.givingbackassoc.org
