Charitable, Community Oriented Small Business hit by Natural Disasters & Covid needs help to continue to support employees and their families

Jon Venn, owner and manager of Blue Ribbon Dive Resort in the Philippines has been a pillar of the local community for many years, and always puts the needs of his employees and their families, before his own, as well as providing charitable aid to his local community whenever possible, especially during natural disasters and other crises. After multiple natural disasters, and the COVID crisis, he is struggling to keep his business afloat, and most importantly to him, continue to keep his staff employed and their families fed.

Just a couple of months before COVID broke out and shut down businesses in the Philippines, Taal Volcano (situated just 38km away) erupted, causing a mass evacuation, and closing down travel and tourism. Jon and his wife Becca, together with the team from Blue Ribbon jumped-in and started providing meals and fund-raising to provide financial support for evacuees. They had barely gotten back on their feet when the COVID lock downs hit. All businesses where ordered to close and there was no income for months. Jon and Becca used all their savings and borrowed where ever they could to make sure their staff were paid a stipend and had food for their families, as well as starting and being involved with other charitable efforts to support the wider community. (see images for more details on their charitable work)

The Philippines is still in lock down, but local tourism has been allowed to start up, and Jon was able to open the resort on a limited basis, but at least start bringing in a little income to keep them afloat. Soon after reopening, the resort was hit by a typhoon which destroyed their only dive boat, without which their ability to earn money is severely hampered and is once again putting the business and all the families dependent on it, in jeopardy once again. Jon has managed to fix up the hull and deck of their old broken down dive boat, but it does not have an engine, and there is simply nothing left to finance a new one. On top of that, Luzon has just gone into yet another lockdown, meaning the resort is basically shut down again, putting all the employees and their families in jeopardy.

We are asking for your help to raise PHP 70,000 (USD 1400) to give this hardworking man back his ability to support both his own and so many other families that depend entirely on this business for their income. Your support and any donation is greatly appreciated. If you know any scuba diving enthusiasts, especially those who love to dive in the Philippines, please share this with them.