The year gone by was a good one despite the world being in the grip of recession! The Orphans’ Trust was able to maintain a good level of activity despite the general downswing in markets. It did affect our collections this year and we were often left wondering if we should go ahead with planned activities. Some of our plans had to be put into cold storage, but by and large, we were able to hold on and conduct the following programs: Christmas Celebration: 450 kids from six Orphanages went wild in our premises. The joy of just being there was rewarding. They were fed and entertained by the Club and then they entertained us. There is so much of talent among the kids – it was most enjoyable to watch them. The most stressful feature of the event was the collection bit. Having an assignment on our hands with past years to live up to, we were on tenterhooks wondering whether we would collect enough to pay all bills. There were 3 medical camps conducted for the kids – Orphans and Staff kids. Our sincere thanks to Drs. Bobby Joseph, Keith D’Souza, Prithesh Roshan and their team members. Over 600 kids received a thorough check-up and were treated. We introduced a Blood Donation drive this year. We hired 2 teachers to tutor about 60 youngsters of the Good Shepherd and St Patricks Homes through the year, to bring them up to a level of excellence that they would never have achieved on their own. The results show a 20–25% improvement in performance. Looking forward, the CCOT Committee would like to expand the work being done. We invite members to volunteer their time and help. More energy will generate more financial support. What we are doing is nothing compared to what we can do! We need to ensure more kids get tuitions. This will mean hiring additional teaching staff. We also want to develop them in other areas, like music, art, etc. We are putting up to the General Body, a proposal, based on the Biblical principle of Tithing. We should share some of the profit we make with our less fortunate brethren. Do support this proposal when it comes up for consideration. In concluding, let me thank Greg D’Sa, Devika and Raphael Johnson, Dr Bobby, Dr Prithesh, Preethi Viegas, Brian D’Lima, Gavin Santiago, Alan Ming, the staff of CC and all those who volunteered their help for Orphans Day in December. Without them on the team, nothing would have been achieved! Proposal: “Proposed that a percentage of the profits of the Catholic Club be handed over on an annual basis to the Catholic Club Orphans’ Trust to be used to further the programmes of the Trust.” It must be kept in mind that: The Catholic Club is now a stable organization, and the accounts show a considerable surplus. The revenue of the Club coming totally from recreation and relaxation lays on the organization a social responsibility to share part of it with the less fortunate. The activity of the CCOT leaves ample scope for expansion and needs funding. The CCOT now has Income Tax exemption under Sec. 80 G and this will benefit the Club. The CCOT is an arm of the Club but is not supported by the Club financially at all. We rely totally on donations that we get from corporates and well-meaning citizens, who are sometimes not even members of the Club.