Students plan gala to benefit Dominican Republic water purification project
March 1, 2012
University of Richmond students are hosting a fundraising gala March 25 at the Science Museum of Virginia to raise $25,000 for a water purification system in a Dominican Republic village.
The students learned about issues related to lack of potable water during a class trip to the country in fall 2011. The desperate need for clean water infrastructure moved the class to raise funds to pay for installing the water purification system.
The class is working with a partner organization, Esperanza International, which engages in microfinance projects to improve communities.
The purification system will provide water to 30,200 people in La 40 de Cristo Rey and neighboring communities.
The 7 p.m. gala will feature a silent auction and music. Esperanza International president Carlos Pimentel will speak.
The event is open to the public. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online at benefithope.eventbrite.com. Direct contributions to and corporate sponsorships of the water project are available, and interested parties can contact class leaders Miki Doan, by e-mail miki.doan@richmond.edu or by phone 909-576-1860, and Valerie Jama at valerie.jama@richmond.edu.
The class is part of the university’s Sophomore Scholars in Residence program, giving students with shared interests the opportunity to live, study and travel together. It is team-taught by management professor Jeff Pollack and psychology professor Jeni Burnette.
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