Tribe Donates to American Red Cross Tsunami Relief Efforts

 By Jaime Restrepo

HOLLYWOOD — On Jan. 31, Chairman Mitchell Cypress and Big Cypress Council Representative David Cypress presented a check to representatives of the Broward County chapter of the American Red Cross as a contribution towards the Red Cross National Relief Fund, as well as the International Relief Fund.

The proceeds came from a Jan. 15 fund raising event at the Ahfachkeke Festival in Big Cypress. Co-headliners John Anderson and the Bellamy Brothers, as well as several other music acts, played at the festival.

Both Cypress brothers presented Kathryn Cousins and Danielle Johnson from the Broward County chapter of the American Red Cross with a check for $3,000. Also present were: Special Projects Coordinator Nery Mejicano, Marketing Director Lucy Evanicki, concert promoter Randy Carrillo, and David Cypress’s Administrative Assistant Dale Grasshopper.

The idea for a concert was originally conceived in the Big Cypress community with the assistance of the Big Cypress Council Representative David Cypress and Chairman Mitchell Cypress. They became very involved with the disaster relief effort and asked Mejicano to facilitate a public venue to raise money and public awareness.

It was originally planned for Sept. 4, 2004 , Labor Day weekend, to benefit the victims of the first hurricane to strike Florida , Hurricane Charlie, which struck the state on Aug. 13. Unfortunately, Hurricane Francis paid the state a visit during that weekend, so the concert was postponed until Jan. 15.

However, during the 2004 Christmas holidays, tragedy struck in Asia when a strong earthquake devastated a region of Indonesia . The tsunamis that resulted from the earthquake went on to wreak havoc and utter devastation in the Indian Ocean basin to kill in excess of 150,000 people. The proceeds from the concert were donated to the Red Cross to benefit both domestic and international relief efforts.

The local chapter of the American Red Cross were pleased to receive a donation and recognition from the Seminole Tribe and is looking forward to mutual cooperation between the Tribe and their organization. Cousins and Johnson were eager to continue the relationship with the Tribe and offered their agency’s services with respect to CPR training and coordination of emergency services.

The Tribe has again demonstrated its goodwill in its relationships with other agencies. In this case, the Tribe’s goodwill will benefit the victims of last year’s hurricane relief, as well as the unfortunate people who suffered through the tsunamis.