GOVPH

19 December 2013 - Ms. Niki Leondakis, Chief Executive Officer of Commune Hotels + Resorts, together with other officers and employees of the company visited the Consulate General on December 13 and turned over a check amounting to US$ 21,000 to Ms. Mona Lisa Yuchengco, Founder and Chair  of Philippine International Aid. The check represents the money raised collectively by the employee fundraising campaign of Commune Hotels and Resorts for Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) relief and rebuilding assistance. 

Deputy Consul General Jaime Ramon Ascalon thanked Ms. Leondakis and her team for their generosity and deep concern for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).  “It has been more than a month since Typhoon Haiyan hit our country and we continue to be overwhelmed by the support and assistance extended by the Bay-area community to the victims,” said Deputy Consul General Ascalon. He gave an update on the status of the ongoing relief and rebuilding efforts. 

 “I am very proud of my team for coming up with this initiative to support the relief operations in the Philippines,” said Ms. Leondakis. Commune Hotels + Resorts is a company that manages and owns various hotels and resorts under its Joie de Vivre Hotel and Thompson Hotel brands.  Ms. Leondakis and her delegation also briefed the Consulate General on the company’s  ongoing “You Can Make a Difference” fundraising campaign and individual fundraising events organized by the various hotels under the company.  

 “We are indeed thankful for the continued support and assistance of Bay-area companies such as Commune Hotels + Resorts especially as we transition from relief operations to rebuilding efforts, Ms. Yuchengco said. Philippine International Aid (PIA) a non-profit organization established in 1986 to provide assistance in the areas of shelter, rehabilitation, health and nutrition, education, assimilation and livelihood programs to disadvantaged Filipino youth in the Philippines and in the San Francisco Bay Area. PIA joined the worldwide effort to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) and is working with the AY Foundation to provide relief and essential supplies for the typhoon victims as well as support for rebuilding efforts in the affected areas. END