4 Jul 2008

Festival donations in American Samoa larger than expected

2:33 pm on 4 July 2008

The American Samoa Arts Festival Committee has raised 380,000 US dollars in donations from businesses, churches, villages, schools and individuals.

The co-chair of the committee Fagafaga Daniel Langkilde says the original estimates of the money to be raised from donations for this month's event was 280,000 dollars.

Co-chair Leala Elisara says it is gratifying that the money has been raised from within the territory.

She says the business community especially has supported the festival and there's a unified effort to make the event a major success.

Two months ago, the committee said the estimated 4.1 million budget had a shortfall of one million.