Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation on January 20 said it received more than $20 million in donations last year – $6,318,465 in US dollars and 56,351,587,500 riel ($13.8 million).
A total of $1,474,558 was directly provided to the four Kantha Bopha children’s hospitals in the capital and Jayavarman VII Children's Hospital in Siem Reap town, and a large proportion came from a range of donation boxes placed in “key locations”, it said.
The foundation said it transferred $4,521,630 and exactly 200 million riel to the hospitals over the year to support operations and ensure that care for children remains quality, equitable, and free of charge.
However, it did not mention what it planned to do with the remaining donations.
Nonetheless, the foundation voiced “profound thanks for the generous hearts of the public, whether domestic and from abroad”.
It also encouraged the public to continue donations to the foundation by becoming honorary members with a contribution of 20 million riel per year, or supporting members with 5,000 riel per month or 60,000 riel per year, “to show solidarity with a spirit of ‘Khmers help Khmers’”.
The foundation was established as an initiative of Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife Bun Rany to help support the care and treatment of children at the five associated hospitals.
Of note, there is a similarly-named organisation, the Kantha Bopha Foundation Children's Hospitals, which also receives donations on behalf of the hospitals.
