Update
KNYSNA NEWS - Fred Alger, a US businessman, has donated $100 000 (about R1.3 million), to victims of the Knysna fire.
Alger says he has done this because he understands loss and trauma, having lost his brother, nephew and all the staff of Fred Alger Investment Firm during the falling of the Twin Towers in New York.
At the age of 65 he had to rebuild the entire business and recover from financial and emotional loss, but with his unique investment philosophy and entrepreneurial spirit he has created one of the best performing investment firms on Wall Street.
Alger's association with Knysna is through his partner Ingrid (née Mathiesen) who was born and bred in the town and is the family's fourth generation of this area.
Since 7 June, this fund has quietly assisted:
50 families,
17 small businesses
and is able to assist more people with the emphasis on:
- Destitute families
- Single parents
- Elderly persons
- The uninsured or in some cases, underinsured
"A special interest is in small businesses who were affected by the fire which are finding it difficult to recover and become profitable again. We believe that Knysna will be sorely affected if so many businesses fail because of the fire," said Alger.
The fund works alongside Rotary, Knysna Families in Need, Knysna Fires 7th June and many other volunteer groups to ensure cross-checking and expanding help to those in need.
* If you are registered with the municipality as a fire victim and need help, or perhaps a little more help, please send your full particulars to jill.mathiesen@gmail.com.
Read a previous article: Twin Towers businessman donates to fire victims
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