MANILA, Philippines – Latin pop star Enrique Iglesias received handmade Valentine’s cards from kindergarten students in Tacloban, thanking him for helping relief efforts in connection with super typhoon Yolanda.
Enrique received the cards from representatives of Save the Children, an international non-governmental organization, last Friday, February 12, while on a concert tour in Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA. Save the Children and Enrique partnered and raised funds through his Hearts4Kids T-shirt promotion.
In a press release, Enrique said, “I am honored to receive these hopeful messages from children in the Philippines."
Iglesias' mother, socialite and television journalist Isabel Preysler, is of Filipino descent.
“My fans have embraced this project in more ways than I could have imagined, and their generosity is going to make a big difference for kids in crises,” he added.
During the meeting with Save the Children representatives, Enrique also gave a check for $ 25,000 raised by the Hearts4Kids T-shirt sales. The amount will go to the organization's Children’s Emergency Fund.
Ned Olney, country director of Save the Children in the Philippines, said that they were very grateful for Enrique’s contribution to the project.
“Typhoon Yolanda took a tremendous toll on children. I would like to thank Enrique Iglesias for his support to the children of Yolanda and to vulnerable children around the world. We know from experience that the faster we respond, the more children’s lives can be saved during disasters,” he said in a press release.
“That is why the Children in Emergencies fund is critical for our work. This allows Save the Children to prepare communities and help children better overcome the next storm.”
Super typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) hit the Visayas region in November 2013, destroying thousands of homes and killing more than 7,000 people. It is considered as one of the worst calamities to hit the country, where cities like Tacloban, Leyte, bore the brunt. – Rappler.com