TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin gofundme is back up and running

The gofundme web site to raise money for Officer Benjamin is back up and running.
http://www.gofundme.com/bh2frtbs

Thank you Barbara

glad to help out
The fund is over $10000.00 now! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

update: over $12000.00 has been raised. The goal is to reach US $25,000 by midnight on Monday, August 17, 2015. The final grand total will be announced on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 on Island 92 (91.9) FM and they will present a check to representatives of the Gamali Benjamin Foundation.

So...if anyone wants to donate, please do so by Monday night.
Thanks to everyone for their support!

At this moment the fund is at $12,265 which is nice but nowhere near what it should be. The problem is that only 163 people have donated so far. This is pitiful compared to how many have benefitted from police presence when visiting the island. Every gift, no matter the size, helps. Everyone needs to participate. If you visit this forum, read these threads and are someone who claims to care about Sint Maarten and its people, then there is no excuse for not contributing to this worthwhile cause. If everyone here gave, even at the $20, $30, $40 level, the total would add up quickly. Please participate and do it now. Don't put it off till later.

I am curious about the Foundation.

Will ALL funds raised in this initial campaign go to Officer Benji's family, and then the fund will be built up again (yet named in his honor) for the benefit of other families?? Or is some of this fund being used for that cause as well?

The wording and final intent is unclear to me....or maybe I didn't drink enough coffee.

"All proceeds will be given directly to the family as we remember an officer and gentleman, Gamali Benjamin through the Gamali Benjamin Foundation established by the Police Department on St. Maarten. Funds will be used for the purposes of caring for the educational and welfare needs of the children of officers who have lost their lives in active service, including the son of the late Officer Gamali Benjamin. "

Leona,

I noticed and wondered about the same thing since this particular GoFundMe was started specifically for this one police officer because of his ultimate sacrifice to his home and country.

While the idea of supporting all officers' families is a good one, I should think this fund would be specifically for the officer that was killed and for whom it was originally started and the issue of support for future needs would be a whole separate item and quest. Does anyone know the specific answer to this? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

hi everyone
I just spoke to Soc. the fund has been set up for the children of members of the police force who have lost their lives. The only one who unfortunately has lost his life is Officer Benjamin. the funds raised on gofundme will be presented to the foundation and earmarked specifically for Officer Benjamin's children. This will be done on Island 92 Tuesday morning. The Foundation will administer the funds. The foundation will remain in existence in case it is needed (God forbid) for other officers' families..

... so if you're planning to give, not much time left!

It ends Monday night... please do give now, any amount is fine!

All members and lovers of SXM should give to this fund raise. We all need to support the people who protect every day. Officer Benjamin gave his life for all of us.

Done

I'm in, as are 170 others.

Done

over #13,000!

$14,400 right now. Ir is not to late to contribute...

Soc of Island 92 presented the check of the funds raised so far to a representative of the foundation set up by the police. Paul Ellinger stated the money will go to cover the young son's educational needs for as long as necessary.
AND <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/breakingnews.gif" alt="" /> Soc announced that the GOFUNDME Campaign remains OPEN until we reach our goal!
So keep on giving!!!!