Calvin Ayre Foundation: Help for Haiti Still Needed

Calvin Ayre
Calvin Ayre
February 15, 2010
8 Comments

Anita Ayre and the Calvin Ayre Foundation

Last month I put out a challenge to everyone in the online gaming industry to reach into their pockets and donate what they could to help Haiti and the hundreds of thousands who lost their homes and family in the January 12th earthquake. In return, I said that I would personally match any and all donations up to $1,000,000. Anita Ayre has helped to oversee this process and she is the CEO of the Calvin Ayre Foundation.

So far, so good.

Following the biggest week of conferences, awards and parties for the iGaming industry in London, which included ICE, The Betting Show, The International Gaming Awards (IGA), the iGB Affiliate Awards and Lyceum Media’s Fire & Ice Party, donations have started to pour in from all corners of the globe. The IGA, Casinomeister.com, GMX.net, KLS Betting, Top Affiliate Publishing Ltd, EvolutionGaming.com, ClickBoss.co.uk & Simon Collins have all come forward to accept my challenge with some very generous donations.

I am happy to report that as of February 2nd the total in donations made and money matched by the Calvin Ayre Foundation is now at GBP 155,316 (or US $244,173.31).

I’ll admit it’s a great start (and I am very thankful to those who gave), but it’s also my worry that just because Haiti has fallen off the front pages of the newspapers people will assume that everything is now under control and forget about making any donations. Sadly, the situation in Haiti continues to be critical and now is when they really need help the most. The country needs a total rebuild and its people will require years and years to heal. This is far from over and help is still desperately needed. And if you think that your individual donation will have little or no impact – think again.

Individuals are now using their social networks to band together to raise funds for Haiti; Twitter and Facebook users are becoming philanthropists in their own right by motivating friends and followers within their own personal social networks to make donations. It’s the sort of personal, heartfelt request that most charities haven’t made and it’s what makes “citizen philanthropist” the ideal fundraiser.

Here’s where you can go right now to make a donation to help Haiti: Oxfam

Once you’ve made your donation, please send your receipt and the name of the company you represent to:
haiti@calvinayrefoundation.com and your donation will be matched.

The Calvin Ayre Foundation is a prime example of self-administered philanthropy and further proof that successful people are doing more “good” these days. What some people fail to understand is that the Calvin Ayre Foundation does not and has never initiated any fundraising events; my foundation does not raise money for charity, it serves as a vehicle for my own personal charity work and it is managed by my sister, Anita Ayre, who is also the Calvin Ayre Foundation’s CEO. I spoke to Anita last week about the earthquake in Haiti and she was thrilled to learn that the Calvin Ayre Foundation was sending out this challenge to the gaming industry. Anita has seen first hand what real poverty means and the incredible good that comes from people and organizations that donate money to help. Throughout the years she’s worked with the Calvin Ayre Foundation in reaching out to impoverished families and she’s always humbled by their strength of spirit. Here’s what she recalled:

“When we were in Costa Rica to help move a family that had been living at the bottom of a very steep ravine, at the side of a river in a shack that was ready to fall into the river at the next rain storm, that really hit me hard. None of the kids had beds, they slept on boxes with no pillows or mattresses. The kids said their house shook when it rained and they were all scared in the night. We moved them out of that shack and into a rental house while we built them a new house near the children’s school. When we gave this family the keys to their new home and walked them through their bedrooms, there was not a single person in that house that could hold back their tears, just seeing how emotional it was for the family. Ever since that day I have felt so very fortunate to have this opportunity to directly help and be personally involved in the Calvin Ayre Foundation. It is a great dream for most people and I am able to live it. My children are all grown up now, so what better way to spend my time then to be able to help other children.”

Since its inception, the Calvin Ayre Foundation has always been a personal priority and I continue to encourage anyone and everyone who works with me to get involved in the various projects that we target. (To learn more about these projects, visit the CalvinAyreFoundation.org.)

Haiti is one of those special projects.

I am once again asking everyone in the gaming industry to make a donation. Today. We all know the gaming industry is a profitable one, so let’s give a little back. If that’s not incentive enough then knowing that this industry challenge is costing me $1,000,000 HAS to be worth something.

To make a donation, please send your receipt and the name of the company you represent to:
haiti@calvinayrefoundation.com and your donation will be matched.

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Tags: Article, Calvin Ayre Foundation, charity, haiti
Views and opinions expressed are those of the Author and do not necessarily reflect those of CalvinAyre.com
  • Nick Corneal

    My name is Nick Corneal and I would like to be involved in the medical aspect of any disasters where you need someone with emergency care experience. I also am able to work as a carpenter. I am 61 years young and want to make a difference. If you can use me and my services please contact me. I also have a friend who received the Medal of Bravery in Canada when he was working as a paramedic. He lost part of his lung as a result of smoke inhalation when he rescued a lady from a burning home. He and I are pretty board with our lives and want to help. We don't have money to travel but our services are free. You and your foundation is doing a great job. By the way we're Canadians.

  • Nick Corneal

    My name is Nick Corneal and I would like to be involved in the medical aspect of any disasters where you need someone with emergency care experience. I also am able to work as a carpenter. I am 61 years young and want to make a difference. If you can use me and my services please contact me. I also have a friend who received the Medal of Bravery in Canada when he was working as a paramedic. He lost part of his lung as a result of smoke inhalation when he rescued a lady from a burning home. He and I are pretty board with our lives and want to help. We don't have money to travel but our services are free. You and your foundation is doing a great job. By the way we're Canadians.

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