Rotunda event aids tsunami survivors
Concert raises money for victims of disaster; raffle features prizes donated by local businesses
The Daily Pennsylvanian
January 19, 2005
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Vocalist and pianist Anam Owili-Eger performs at the West Philadelphia Tsunami Relief Raffle and concert, organized by Penn graduate student Alexine Fleck. The benefit sought to raise money for tsunami victims.
Photo by Alex Small/The Daily Pennsylvanian
There is not a more grassroots way to raise funds for those affected by the Dec. 26 tsunami than bluegrass music, poetry readings, raffles and bake sales.
The Rotunda -- an arts-and-culture hub located at 4014 Walnut St. -- hosted a West Philadelphia Tsunami Relief Raffle and concert yesterday to raise money for victims of the tsunami.
The fundraiser, organized by English Department graduate student Alexine Fleck, featured raffles for gifts donated by local businesses, a bake sale, poetry readings and a performance by the bluegrass band Acoustic League of Justice and DJ Near.
While watching news broadcasts of the tsunami, "I felt horrified and hopeless," Fleck said.
After thinking about how "many nations, despite their differences, extended their hands to us" after the September 11 attacks, she thought it was time that the United States returned the world's generosity.
Fleck began raising money for tsunami victims by asking local businesses to donate gifts for a raffle.
The desire to help was so widespread that "businesses even started contacting me," Fleck said. "Everyone wanted to do something, I just had to ask them."
Fleck then recruited friends to help her organize the evening's music, poetry and publicity. The Kelly Writers House designed and donated flyers for the event.
English Department graduate student Cathy Nicholson helped Fleck organize the bake sale.
"About 10 people contributed baked goods," she said.
Lorelle Beaten, a member of the local Philadelphia community, also responded to Alexine's request for help.
"I'm reading a poem," Beaten said. Her poem is entitled "Tsunami 2004 Thoughts."
Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, the event featured over 20 $1 raffle booths.
Prizes ranged from a dinner and movie package from Allegro Pizza to gift certificates from the restaurants La Terrasse and Penne.
The Sri Lanka Tsunami Orphan Child Fund is one such organization which will be receiving proceeds from the event. It was organized by Duleesha Kulasooriya, a friend of Fleck's unaffiliated with the University.
He fears that "six months from now, people will forget" about the tsunami victims. He aims to do something more "sustainable," he said.
Since he views orphans as the most-affected group, he aims to raise money for their cause in a way that will sustain support for years to come.
Sue-Ellen Lee, another friend of Fleck's unaffiliated with the University who is also involved with the orphans' fund, said that "we hope to give [the funds] to a grassroots effort."
After raising $10,000 from e-mails to his friends,Kulasooriya's goal is to raise $20,000 he said.
He intends to provide stipends to hosts, preferably distant relatives, who agree to care for orphans. He also hopes to deposit funds in the orphans' bank accounts, which they would be able access at age 18.
"We don't want anyone abusing the money," he said.
Joy St. Louis, a research technician for the School of Medicine's HIV Prevention division, said that "if listening to bluegrass, putting money into a raffle and eating a cookie will help, I'm happy to do that."