In light of current world-wide relief efforts for tsunami-hit South East Asia, Chairman of the Charity Commission, Andre D. Heyliger, yesterday took the opportunity to remind the public of the following guidelines regarding the setting up of fund-raising charities in Bermuda.

Mr. Heyliger said that the Charities Commission will continue to monitor and to review ? on a real-time basis ? all applications for charitable status by groups that wish to contribute to the relief effort and that applications will be vetted as quickly and as efficiently as possible. He reminded potential fund-raisers that the law requires that they must be sanctioned by a license issued under the Charities Act before they can solicit charitable funds from the public.

Mr. Heyliger said the Charity Commission wished to express its continued support for the established international charities that are collecting funds in Bermuda and around the world for the tsunami relief effort.

"The generosity of the people of Bermuda is evident, especially when there is a natural disaster," he said. "Whether in this region or on the other side of the globe, Bermuda can be counted on to contribute."

Mr. Heyliger pointed out that many international charities with fund-raising arms in Bermuda already have people on the ground in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the other countries affected by this unprecedented event.

"We encourage Bermudians and the local business community to find their own way of supporting these and the newly licensed charities. Please keep in mind that when you give, ensure that your charity of choice is registered and has the resources to put your contribution to the best use," Mr. Heyliger said.

One such charity is The Sri Lanka Tsunami Relief Fund which is now officially registered for the next year under charity number 713.

Donations can be made into Bank of Bermuda accounts number: 1501831875 for Bermudian dollars, or account number: 1510831875 for US Dollar donations.

The organisation has managed to raise $30,000 so far, but organiser Bala Nadarajah said the public might have felt weary in making donations before the charity was officially registered, but could now rest assured.

He appealed for donations which will help build homes in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile there is no end to the imagination of Bermudians in finding ways to raise money for the South Asia tsunami Relief efforts.

Aggie's Garden and Waterside Cafe in Pitts Bay Road is selling organic cookies this week to raise money for the children's orphanage in Coimbatore, India.

Almost 8,000 people died in the area Tamil Nadu when the tsunami struck on December 26 and staff from the Canadian-organised facility, Families for Children Orphanage, in the city of Coimbatore have made several trips to the devastated coast to find orphaned children which they take back to the orphanage.

The orphanage is staffed by volunteers and is appealing for funds to continue their work.

If you'd like to place a cookie order, give Aggie's a call at 296-7346.

Gillian and Robert Hollis from Harrington Hills Farm are donating seedlings to Brighton Nursery in Devonshire. A special seedling sale will be held this Saturday from 8 a.m. and all proceeds will be donated to the Bermuda Red Cross.

Meanwhile employees and clients at The LOM Group of Companies in Bermuda came up with their own unique fund-raising drive. They simply dug deep into their own pockets and then convinced the company to match whatever they raised. The total came to a staggering $47,709.73 ? and they did it in only three days.

The money will be donated to the Bermuda Red Cross later this morning.

Not taking this amount into consideration, the Bermuda Red Cross had raised $282 014.47 by 4 p.m. yesterday.

This figure is sure to climb as Helen Wicks, the administrator of the Bermuda Red Cross said the telephones at their offices had not stopped ringing.

"I just can't believe the response!" she said.

The LOM Group of companies are not alone in their fund-raising drive as Sun Life Financial are also launching their own fund-raising effort to raise $1-million in Bermuda, the US and Canada.

Sun Life Financial Inc. will contribute up to $500,000 to match donations from employees and members of the Clarica sales force in support of the tsunami relief cause.

This fund is in addition to the $100,000 Sun Life Financial is donating to the Canadian Red Cross South Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Spring Garden in Washington Lane will be postponing their fund raising dinner this Saturday night. Watch the press for details as to when the dinner will be held, but monies raised will go towards the Sri Lanka Tsunami Relief Fund.