GHC Reid & Co., Ltd. and Panamex Pacific have teamed up for a worthy cause as major sponsors in the Hope House Fundraising Golf Tournament that is set to tee off this Saturday at the Ili’ili Golf Course.

According to organizers, Hope House Board of Directors and community members are organizing the tournament and raffle to support the work of the Dominican Sisters of the Trinity and staff to provide the care for elderly patients, terminally ill patients and children with severe disabilities.

“One hundred percent of the proceeds from the fundraising will be given to Hope House,” the Board said in a statement.

Rep. Taotasi Archie Soliai, Sales and Marketing Manager at GHC Reid is calling on the general public to support this worthy cause by signing up to play in the competition or by purchasing raffle tickets which offer great prizes from a number of local companies.

“Hope House is a very worthy cause and this is a community fundraiser — all differences aside, both companies — ourselves and Panamex — are normally competitors. When it comes to community events we have agreed to partner together for the benefit of the community,” Taotasi said. “We’re calling on the general public — all golfers and non-golfers to support the tournament and raffle, for those who don’t play golf, to come out and support...there is a genuine interest in supporting this worthy cause as Hope House is a non-profit center that helps the disadvantaged and disabled. We look forward to a successful fundraiser and to the community for their support.”

The Hope House Board, headed by David Robinson, who is also General Manager at Panamex Pacific, explains that Hope House is comprised of four sectors: care for the elderly, care for the physically challenged, a day care for children, and the Early Childhood Education Montessori pre-school.

The Dominican Sisters of the Trinity oversee the operation of all 4 components.

Fifteen elderly, some of whom have been abandoned by the families, 10 individuals with disabilities and 44 children are cared for at Hope House, a total of 69 people who depend on the House’s services daily.

There are four Sisters in the Community and approximately 53 staff providing care for these individuals 24 hours, seven days a week, says the Board.  There are 20 teachers and staff working for the Day Care and the Montessori pre-school.

Robinson told Samoa News yesterday that as major sponsors, Panamex and GHC Reid will provide the usual drinks for tournament and raffle participants

Businesses and members of the community have been sent letters from the Hope House Board asking them to assist in the fundraiser and raffle, by registering for the competition or by purchasing raffle tickets.

“We are looking to sell as many raffle tickets...there are many good prizes that have been donated by various people,” said Robinson. “Raffle tickets are five dollars each.”

He notes that as director of Hope House he has volunteered to organize the tournament and a committee had been formed to engage the business community and the public.

“Hope House is the only such house in the community here in Tutuila and Manu’a and it’s very important that we maintain the hard work carried out by the Sisters of the Nazareth over the last 24 years,” said Robinson. “It’s a very important facility for the elderly whose families find it difficult to look after them; for children, those with debilitating illnesses and the Day Care for children who parents work in the day. It’s also important for education with the Montessori school.”

He points out that the House is looking for funding to help keep the Hope House open that it will continue to serve those who utilize its services.

Formerly called the Nazareth House, Hope House was established when The Sisters of Nazareth accepted the invitation of the late Cardinal Pio Taofinu’u to open a home for the elderly on the grounds of the Diocese. The Sisters came to American Samoa on June 22, 1984.  The Sisters funded the construction of Nazareth House and the dedication was in January 1987.

The first elderly resident was received on March 1, 1987 and the Montessori pre-school was opened in response to request from local residents on April 10, 1987.

A subsequent request was made by Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) for the Sisters to provide respite care for children with severe disabilities.  The first child was received on August 12, 1987.

The Sisters of Nazareth worked tirelessly for some 24 years to materialize Cardinal Pio’s vision for a home-care facility for the infirm, disabled and elderly without regard for the denomination in faiths. The Sisters of Nazareth left American Samoa in early 2009. And a few months later the Sisters of the Trinity stepped in to run the facility.

“So we’re looking to try and get some funds. It’s difficult in this day and age to keep this type of facility running,” he said. “We do get some funding from government but it’s never really never enough to provide the services. There are a lot of people who should in Hope House but are not there and with the financial capabilities we’d be able to look after them much better.”

Registration for the tournament starts at 6 a.m. and the competition will tee off at 7:30 a.m. Three-person teams are $250 and $0 for individuals. There are a number of special prizes for the longest drive and closest-to-the-hole competitions.

Raffle prizes include a range and refrigerator donated by ACE American Industries; a round-trip ticket to Honolulu from Hawaiian Airlines and  Blackberry Curve donated by Blue Sky Communications. There are also round-trip tickets to Samoa donated by Inter-Island Airways and Polynesian Airlines and burner gas stoves donated by Origin Energy.

Raffle tickets are $5 per ticket and $20 per book.

He extends thanks to the community who has supported Hope House and to the businesses who have contributed to this weekend’s tournament.

“We thank them very much and look forward to having as many people possible at the tournament and raffle,” Robinson said.

He asks that those who wish to contribute to the cause but not play in the tournament stop by the Golf Course to make a donation.

For more information or to make donation arrangements, contact David Robinson at 699-1881 or Rep. Larry Sanitoa at 733-3501.