Santapaws Xtravaganza - business with a heart

The Santapaws Xtravaganza, a Christmas Bazaar with a difference in aid of Rescue Animals Sri Lanka [ RAS ],  held on 1st December at the Cinnamon Grand, exuded festive cheer, hospitality, warmth  and joie de vivre, with an atmosphere redolent with the spirit of loving and giving, not forgetting fabulous shopping! After all, this was a bazaar that benefitted both Animals as well as People. The most  important feature of the Santapaws Xmas bazaar was that RAS had given five complimentary stalls to Human Charities close to their hearts, namely The Indira Cancer Trust, Alzheimer’s Foundation, Helpage,  Sisters At Law-  a charity that helps abused women and girls, and The Rehabilitation Centre for the Communication Impaired [RCCI], for them to sell goods and raise funds for their own charities. 
The ‘Jax Dip’ a Lucky Dip named after the RAS mascot, a miniature Dachshund whose spine is broken in three places, is currently at the Cinnamon Grand Lobby and will be there till the 18th of December, so do drop in a toy, an item of clothing or dry food, as all of these items will be distributed amongst the children at the Cancer Hospital and the Jinananda Orphanage in Wellawatte. 

The Chief Guest at this event was to be  Julie Chung, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, but she was stranded in Abu Dhabi and Dr Patrick McNamara, Executive Director of the United States – Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission came in her place, and together with little Jax the RAS mascot, were the STARS of the show. The Cinnamon Grand’s star – all five of them, shone ultra bright as they exemplified Corporate Social Responsibility at its best.   Kamal Munasinghe- Area Vice President Cinnamon Colombo Hotels and General Manager Cinnamon Grand Colombo, a staunch supporter of RAS and all its activities, together with his team demonstrated the fact that by working together, this world can indeed be a better place for both humans and animals, as did the other partners who joined hands with RAS to make this event a success, namely Niru, Mega Lifesciences, Linen and I, Fashion Bug,  Social Media Partner Zelus, Print Media Partner Wijeya Newspapers Ltd, Videographer Proimage ,  Brian Kerkoven, Printers OfficeMax, and so many friends and well wishers too numerous to mention, all of whom worked hard to make this Bazaar a reality and a success. 
From the moment the doors opened, shoppers were dazzled by the array of goods on sale from 61 different stalls ,  which made this Bazaar a veritable shoppers paradise. 
The Santapaws Xtravaganza wasn’t  just a bazaar—it was a chance to make a difference to all who inhabit this wonderful planet of ours, helping to make the world a little brighter for all creatures great and small.