University student groups and local businesses are taking part in the global tsunami relief effort by organizing fundraising events on Grounds and in the Charlottesville community.
Several student groups are collaborating on their tsunami relief events. Students Helping Asian Relief Efforts, the Indian Student Association, the Thai Student Organization and the U.Va. Tea Club are putting on a benefit concert in the Amphitheater Monday to raise money for UNICEF, CARE and Oxfam. The event will feature a cappella groups, food and prizes in addition to narratives of survivor stories, said TSO President June Sirinthorn Suepunpuck.
"Our basic aim is to get students who may not have had time to go online to donate money and see if we can raise enough money to help everyone," Suepunpuck said.
In addition, the groups also are hosting a bar night Tuesday at the Buffalo Wing Factory. Cups and drafts will be sold for $2 and $1, respectively.
Suepunpuck emphasized that fundraising efforts will not be limited to next week but will continue throughout the semester.
Fundraising events also are scheduled within the Charlottesville community in the coming weeks.
Mark Lorenzoni and his wife, owners of the Ragged Mountain Running Shop, organized a fundraiser that will take place Saturday at Lannigan Field, the University's outdoor track next to Klöckner Stadium. All proceeds from the event will benefit the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the International Rescue Committee and the Monticello Area Community Action Agency, a local anti-poverty organization.
"This is very, very unique in that it's going to benefit a variety of similar type groups that normally would be working individually," Lorenzoni said.
Lorenzoni said all members of the community are invited to make a donation and walk or run a few laps around the track in memory of those who lost their lives in the tsunami disaster.
He added that the event originally was going to be held at Albemarle High School but the location was changed at the last minute to Lannigan Field to encourage University students to participate.
"We're having it in [students'] backyard," Lorenzoni said. "It's an opportunity for townspeople and students to come together and give some dollars, whatever the amount."
The goal is to raise $50,000 by the end of the three-hour event, Lorenzoni said.
Fundraising efforts also are scheduled downtown at Starr Hill Restaurant, Brewery and Music Hall. Starr Hill is partnering with MusicToday, LLC and Bama Works Foundation to host a benefit concert Feb. 5 featuring Brooklyn-based quartet The Damnwells, Charlottesville-native Andy Waldeck, Travis Elliott and other guests. All proceeds will go to the Bama Works Village Recovery Fund, created by the Dave Matthews Band to lend long-term aid to a village in Sri Lanka that was destroyed by the tsunami.
Ann Jones, MusicToday associate director of sales, said she is hoping for a sellout of approximately 450 tickets, and people can make donations in $5 increments online or at the door. All donations will be matched by the Dave Matthews Band, she added.
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