site.btaBulgarian Christmas Charity Campaign Raises Lv 2,590,000 in 2016/2017

Bulgarian Christmas Charity Campaign Raises Lv 2,590,000 in 2016/2017

Sofia, January 17 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Christmas charity campaign is expected to have collected 2,590,000 leva for 2016/2017, according to figures released by the presidential institution at a news conference here on Tuesday. This is the largest amount for the last five years, said the President's Press Secretary Maria Ivanova.

This year, the Bulgarian Christmas supports children with chronic diseases.

As many as 2,800 individual contributors donated to the campaign this year, along with 430 members of the business community and 95 schools countrywide.

A total of 1,808,000 leva have been credited to the campaign's fund-raising account so far. The Bulgarian Christmas has received 782,000 leva from text messages and voice calls.

The funds raised in 2016/2017 will be spent on high-tech equipment for state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment of children with chronic diseases at university and regional hospitals. Support will also be provided to children and parents who approach the initiative. So far, the Administration of the President has received 170 requests for support of children, and 20 medical-treatment facilities have requested the purchase of medical equipment on funds from the campaign, Ivanova said.

During the 14 years since the campaign was launched, more than 30 million leva have been raised, 3,409 children have been supported, and 229 medical-treatment facilities countrywide have received donations in the form of high-tech equipment.