Trinity Supports Tsunami Relief Effort

Members of the College community have contributed more than $5,000 to aid the victims of last December’s tsunami that devastated parts of Asia. Trinity’s effort is being coordinated by the Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement, with input from the student groups FACES (Friends Active in Civic Engagement and Service) and ConnPIRG (The Connecticut Public Interest Research Group. AASA (the Asian American Student Association) coordinated its own fundraising program as well as pitching in to assist the College-wide effort. According to Joe Barber, director of the community service office, the successful result was a product of unity. “With something of this magnitude, it is important to work together to accomplish as much as we can, rather than creating competition among various campus groups. I’m extremely proud of the way people at Trinity—faculty, staff, and students—came together to make this important initiative a success.”

The Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement began the effort by sending out letters to everyone on campus, with student groups then following up with various College constituencies. Among the many individuals and departments from around the College that made generous donations to the cause were Central Services, La Voz Latina, the English Department, and Trinfo Café.

The students also decided to use the ACES Annual Auction for Charity, which took place March 10 in Mather dining hall, as a vehicle to benefit the tsunami relief efforts. The charity auction—held annually since 1995—raised $2,800, surpassing last year’s total by more than $500. The donated prizes up for bid this year included a faculty parking pass, tickets to a performance at Hartford Stage, a Black Magic Cake from Timothy’s, and dinner for six with Dean of Students Fred Alford.

“While the majority of our events aim to build a stronger bond between the Trinity community and the Hartford community, the Annual Auction for Charity looks at the bigger picture,” explains Andrea Leverant ’05, president of ACES (Annual Community Events Staff). “Everyone benefits at this event: students, local businesses, and tsunami victims in Asia. The school-wide tsunami relief has allowed all facets of the Trinity community to get involved and show their support for humanity and the efforts put forth by various groups on campus.”

The money raised is being donated to Oxfam, a development and relief organization that works with others “to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering around the world.” Oxfam is playing a central role in the tsunami relief effort. Approximately $4,000 will go to purchase an Oxfam-recommended 45,000 liter water tank, which can provide 3,000 people with enough clean water for one day. Clean water is in critically short supply in many areas affected by the tsunami. The remaining money will be donated to Oxfam’s catastrophe fund.

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