By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff

The Belau Tourism Association donated on Wednesday $1,000 each to the Canoe Association of Palau and the women’s organization Milad ‘L Dil.
Earlier BTA held a wine and cheese event where they raised over $7,000.
Carol Ngiraidis, BTA president said the event netted $3,100 and the $2,000 was donated to two organizations in line with BTA’s partnership role in promoting sports and education for youth, men and women of Palau.
The donation to the CAP is to support the men and women’s canoe team representing Palau in 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa.
The canoe team garnered Gold medals in both men and women at the 2006 Micronesian Games.
Baklai Temengil accepted the donation in behalf of CAP while Eunice Akiwo received the money from BTA.
The two beneficiaries of the donation thanked BTA for the assistance and said that the
For Milad ‘L Dil, the donation will be utilized for Gift for Teaching project.
The BTA said that each year the group raises funds to purchase books, school supplies and sporting equipment and then donates it to schools in Palau to keep the partnership.
The BTA added that last year’s donation to the group went to schools in Kayangel, Ngardmau and Southwest Islands.
The BTA for the first time last March 31, hosted a wine and cheese tasting to elevate the knowledge of the local people especially those in the service oriented industry.
The wine tasting and cheese event was aimed at raising knowledge of those involved in the tourism industry in sync with the aim to package Palau as a high-end tourist spot.