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The
Shawnee Institute ltd
PRESS
RELEASE
Recovery
Efforts Close to Home:
Residents
of Shawnee, PA to Hand Deliver Aid Relief
Contribute online by clicking here!
Shawnee On
Delaware, PA, Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - Before the devastating effects of
Sunday's catastrophic events could even be fully realized, massive aid and
relief efforts began to take shape. In
a tragedy that has directly impacted civilizations and countries worldwide, it
does not take long for the effects to hit very close to home.
Peter
Kirkwood, 34, was born in Thailand where his father practiced
law from 1965 thru 1972.
A few years later the family purchased the Shawnee
Inn and Golf Resort and Peter and his four siblings were raised
here in Pennsylvania, in the small village of Shawnee on Delaware.
For the past two years, Peter and his wife Elizabeth
have been living in Phuket, Thailand, working as environmental
lawyers and also conducting business there with Peter's brother
Timothy. Phuket
is an island off the west coast of Thailand and was the one
of the hardest-hit parts of the country. The Kirkwoods were
fortunate to be in the US for the holidays and their home
in Thailand, which rests nearer to the hills of the island,
was not significantly impacted.
Pete, Liz and puppy Lola at their home in Kamala Village, Phuket,
Thailand prior to the tsunami. |
Upon hearing the news of the tragedy, the Kirkwoods
first reaction was to figure out what they could do
to help out the victims of this horrible event.
This urge to contribute was only strengthened
by the numerous calls from friends and family wanting
to find out how they could also help.
Pete and Liz are planning to return to Thailand
just after New Year's, but their trip will not be
an ordinary return home.
Immediately after their arrival, the couple
expects to provide hands-on aid to the many people
in desperate need of help.
They feel that their efforts are different
than most large aid organizations because they are
residents of the area and are accustomed to the culture
and language of Thailand, a country they care so much
for. Because
they speak Thai they can provide invaluable help to
local families, and because they speak Spanish, French
and English, they can do the same for stranded and
bereaved tourists.
Although
this is an extreme circumstance, the Kirkwood family
is quite familiar with assisting to people in need.
The Kirkwoods have vast experience in contributing
through worldwide organizations including the Peace
Corps, Special Olympics, and other development agencies.
Peter's mother, Virginia Pearsall Kirkwood,
has also been involved with the Peace Corp both in
the U.S. and abroad, serving as the Director of the
Peace Corp in Thailand from 1990 to 1993 and earlier
as a Peace Corps volunteer in Turkey.
Contribute online by clicking here!
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Aside
from delivering hands-on aid, Pete and Liz are reaching out
to the global community for help.
Many times when a disaster like this strikes, people
feel helpless and overwhelmed by the recovery efforts.
However, the Kirkwoods truly hope to create a strong
enough buzz in order to collect as many funds as possible
to deliver aid to the disaster victims themselves.
Since Thailand is so near and dear to their hearts,
Pete and Liz are anxious to do something on their own.
Peter will personally oversee the distribution of all funds
collected to ensure that they provide maximum relief to the
devastated coast of Thailand.
If
you would like to help alleviate this truly global tragedy,
please send your contributions to the address below (financial
contributions only, please- unfortunately we do not have the
ability to transport material donations):
Contribute online by clicking here!
or send your contributions to:
The
Shawnee Institute Ltd
P.O. Box 406
Shawnee On Delaware, PA 18356
For questions please feel free
to contact Monica Startari at 570-424-4050 x1272 or email
mstartari@shawneeinn.com.
You can also drop off your contribution to Saen or Boonchad
Pruettipun at their restaurant Saen Thai Cuisine, Shawnee
Square, Shawnee On Delaware, PA 18356.
The
Shawnee Institute Ltd is a 501(C)(3) Public Charity and all
monetary donations are tax deductible.
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