Jerramiah T. Healy MAYOR CITY HALL JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 TEL:(201) 547-5200 FAX:(201) 547-4288

JERSEY CITY, NJ - Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy has announced the creation of a Jersey City relief fund to aid the victims of the tsunami disaster. Donations can be made by check or money order to the Mayor Healy Tsunami Relief Fund and sent to City Hall - Mayor's Office, 280 Grove Street, Jersey City, NJ, 07302. Donations are tax-deductible­

This is part of Mayor Healy's continuing effort to rally Jersey City constituents to support the massive relief efforts that are underway for the tsunami victims_ Recent reports project the death toll to be over 270,000, and categorize the tsunami disaster as one of the top ten deadliest natural disasters to occur in over 300 years.

In a press conference held in the City Council Chambers this past December, Mayor Healy launched Jersey City's relief efforts by galvanizing leaders of the South Asian community in Jersey City. Mayor Healy recognizes that Jersey City has a significant Asian population, 16%, that is very much impacted by the disaster, and merits solid support from the city.

Present for this press conference was Vernon Reed, CEO of the American Red Cross Hudson-Bergen Chapter and leaders of various organizations, including Dr. Vijaya Desai, President of Garden State Indian Association, Dr. Raja Rahula, a Jersey City OB/GYN from Sri Lanka, Vinod Kothari, President of the Indo-American Senior Citizens' Association, and Raju Patel, President of the Govinda Sanslsar Center.

In the same press conference, Dr. Desai and Dr. Rahula announced the formation of the Jersey City Physicians & Healtheare Workers' Coalition for 2004 Tsunami Disaster Relief The primary goal of this coalition is to collect medicine and medical supplies Proceeds from the Mayor Healy Tsunami Relief Fund will be used towards medical and basic necessities, and will go towards the American Red Cross Hudson-Bergen Chapter, the Indo­American Senior Citizens' Association, and the Govinda Sanskar Center. Dr. Desai and Dr. Rahula will be traveling to Sri Lanka on January 20th to personally turn over the first set of proceeds from the fund.

For all media inquiries, contact Maria Pignataro, Press Secretary, at 201-547-4836 or at pignatarom@jcnj.com

Follow Ups:

• Re: MAYOR HEALY CREATES TSUNAMI RELIEF FUND how do you spell relief? GAUGHAN 13:05:24 01/19/05 (1)
  • Re: MAYOR HEALY CREATES TSUNAMI RELIEF FUND Payroll?? 13:20:01 01/19/05 (0)
• Re: MAYOR HEALY CREATES TSUNAMI RELIEF FUND He stated if he was there he would have drank all of the Tsunami water and saved thousands of people He would have done this all while being naked 12:46:55 01/19/05 (2)
  • One word. HILARIOUS................... LMAO 15:15:10 01/19/05 (1)
    • Is that the best? Homos for Manzo 16:21:14 01/19/05 (0)