America
NY-based Nepalese designer raises funds for quake victims
New York, April 29
New York-based Nepalese
designer Prabal Gurung has launched a fundraiser to assist disaster
relief efforts in Nepal. So far, he has managed to collect over
$385,000, and he has secured support from Hollywood celebrity Kim
Kardashian.
Gurung has launched a campaign specifically aimed at
collecting funds to support victims of the April 25 quake, under his
organisation Shikshya Foundation Nepal.
The Foundation is working with CrowdRise, one of the world's largest community raising money for various causes.
A
post on the CrowdRise website reads: "Your donations will go through my
organisation, Shikshya Foundation Nepal
(www.shikshyafoundationnepal.org), and we will distribute 100 percent of
the funds accordingly, based on the latest needs on the ground.
"Please
donate generously and spread the word. We will continue to provide
updates and information regarding the allocation of funds. Thank you all
for your support.
Gurung's efforts have found a fan in celebrity
TV star Kardashian, who tweeted: "Praying for victims of the earthquake
in Nepal. Pls. help @prabalgurung raise relief money by donating here ."
The
designer, whose sculpted, modern designs have won the hearts of the
fashion elite, including Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Demi Moore,
praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his quick action in
providing support to the earthquake victims.
"Thank you to people
of India and esp PM @narendramodi for swift & unconditional support
to Nepal in time of need! A mark of a good neighbour," read one of the
tweets of the designer posted on April 26.
Writing for Time
magazine, Gurung expressed how Nepal being his home has been a “constant
source of inspiration†for his work as a fashion designer in New York
City and how “Saturday, April 25, will be a date forever ingrained into
my being".
“I woke up heart-stricken to learn that a massive 7.9
magnitude earthquake had killed countless people in my home country, and
destroyed so many aspects of Nepal... my country has suffered enormous
loss, pain and devastation."
The massive earthquake in the
Himalayan nation on Saturday has claimed more than 4,680 lives and
Nepali Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has warned the casualty figure
could go as high as 10,000.