Arcelie News - Fund Updates
Over $30,000 in donations for Arcelie Laoagan Fund
Great news - we surpassed $30,000 in donations today for the Arcelie Laoagan Fund!! The amazing stories just keep coming as more people hear about Arcelie’s story. Both corporate and individual donations continue to come in from the many friends of West Canadian as well as caring citizens of Calgary with no direct connection to Arcelie or West Canadian. Thank you so much! Please see the news release from January 22 below on how you can help. We will continue to update the progress.
January 25, 2008 - Arcelie Laoagan Fund donations exceed $20,000
Thank you to all who have donated so generously to the Arcelie Laoagan Fund. With just over $20,000 so far, we have covered the funeral and transportation expenses of approximately $15,000. That leaves $5,000 in the fund for Arcelie’s five boys. We really need to keep this going to continue her dream of having her children come to Canada. Please see the news release from January 22 below on how you can help.
January 24, 2008 - Police arrest suspect in Arcelie Laoagan homicide
Police announced that they have made an arrest in Arcelie Laoagan’s murder case. They released the information tonight, just moments after Arcelie’s memorial service at the Calgary Full Gospel Church. Mourners at the service erupted when told of the news.
January 22, 2008 - How to contribute to the Arcelie Laoagan Fund
On behalf of Arcelie’s family and West Canadian, we thank you very much for your overwhelming support. We have received countless calls at West Canadian from customers, friends and industry competitors asking how they can help. We appreciate the support and can’t thank you enough.
Here is how you can help:
- Download a donation form (PDF format)
- Fill out the form
- Make cheque payable to the “Filipino Catholic Society”
- Mail or drop off your cheque/cash (do not mail cash) to West Canadian at 901-10th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0B5 ATTN: Arcelie Laoagan Fund
- Alternatively, our West Canadian delivery team would be happy to pick up your donation (within Calgary). Call our dispatch line at 541-5200 and indicate that the pick up is for a donation cheque.
- Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $25.00 or more
Funds will be used to cover funeral expenses and transportation costs to the Philippines which will total about $15,000. Donations surpassing the $15,000 mark will be put into an account for Arcelie’s children to help continue her dream of bringing her boys to Canada.
January 21, 2008 - Fund being set up on behalf of Arcelie Laoagan
We regretfully announce that one of West Canadian’s employees, Arcelie Laoagan, was reported missing on Thursday evening January 17th, 2008. Subsequently, on Friday January 18th in the morning, a body was found near the Franklin LRT station in Calgary which was later identified as Arcelie.
West Canadian and its employees are deeply saddened by these events and we are in the process of working with Arcelie’s family to establish a legacy fund. Arcelie, originally from the Philippines, moved to Canada three years ago with the goal of bringing her five children and husband to Canada for a better life. Arcelie’s co-workers at West Canadian say she always walked into a room with a smile and was an extremely hard worker that they could depend on.
To start it off, West Canadian is donating $10,000 to the family’s fund. There will be more specific information soon on how the public can contribute. In the meantime, please call West Canadian’s head office in Calgary at 245-2555 or 1-800-267-2555. We will take your name and call you back once we have details on the exactly who to make your cheque out to.
West Canadian has also donated $10,000 to the Calgary Crimestoppers program. We hope this helps raise the awareness of the Crimestoppers program and remind people that every bit of information helps. Anyone who has any information on this case should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a TIP online at the Crimestoppers website.
http://www.westcanadian.com/about_us/news.html
