Successful National PC Association Fundraiser in Belize, 
Thanks to a Donated Motorcycle & Diligent Volunteers

Frederico Gianelli, S.J., chaplain and executive director of the Belize Palliative Care Hospice Association, shared the story of its motorcycle raffle that raised enough money to cover two or three months of expenses, but was equally successful at raising awareness of the association's program that provides palliative care for the poorest of the poor at no cost to patients. In 2024 the program served 191 patients and provided more than 1,600 home visits.

This is Chaplain Gianelli's story:

"Fundraising is a cultural practice and has been a common part of our program since 2005. Every year, we organize some sort of fundraising activity to generate the necessary funds to support various aspects of our mission. Our program is volunteer-based, and it was one of our volunteers who came up with the idea of raffling off a motorcycle.

"We are a nonprofit organization that provides home-based care at no cost to patients and their families. Although we serve anyone who seeks help, the primary focus is on the poorest among the poor. While 70% of our current income comes from the Society of Jesus in the U.S., our organization depends on the generosity of many government and private sector collaborators, as well as that of local and international individuals. 

"The volunteer and I drove an hour and a half to a hardware store in the Mennonite community to request the donation. The Mennonite community may not lack economic resources, but its members often seek advice on how to care for their loved ones at the end of life. This community, informed by their faith, is incredibly generous in supporting others, and they didn’t even want public recognition for their donation.

"While the raffle was nationwide, most of the tickets were sold in Belize City. Each ticket book contained 10 tickets, each sold for $20 BZD (about $10 USD). We printed 750 tickets, and 682 of them were sold. Though the plan was for all tickets to be sold by volunteers, some businesses requested several ticket books to sell to their employees. The event became a community-wide effort, with participation from local businesses, churches, schools, and public offices. We also made announcements on our Facebook page.

"The raffle raised BZD $13,640 ($8,620 USD), which is a significant amount—roughly enough to cover two to three months of operating costs. Beyond the funds raised, the event provided an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about our organization. Belize is a small country, and word of mouth plays an important role. Gaining a good reputation in the community is key to securing long-term support from local members.

More news: a hospice site!

"We’ve also signed a 20-year agreement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize, which allows us to use, remodel, and adapt a house to open a hospice facility. The property is being provided at no cost for the next 20 years. 

"The estimated cost to update and remodel the house is about $100,000 USD. The location is ideal, just a few blocks from the main public hospital and surrounded by medical providers and labs. This is a tremendous opportunity to create the first hospice facility in Belize, which will help model hospice care for local professionals. So, there’s more to come!"

Belize, located on the north-eastern coast of Central America, is bordered by Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea. Belize City had a population of 124,096 as of 2019, and the total population was 411,100 in 2023.

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