Fundraiser for El Salvador school raises $3,600
By Christina Salvo
Pat McMonigal and Catherine Padilla co-hosted a semi-formal party to benefit schools and families in El Salvador on Oct 25.
The event saw approximately 250 people in attendance, which was twice as many people than expected. At the evening's end the party had brought in $3600 in donations.
The money will allow for the first set of text books to be purchased for Fey Allegria, an El Salvador elementary school. A scholarship program for the University of Central America in San Salvador will be established with the money from this fundraiser. The rest of the money will go to aiding the extremely poverty stricken families.
After returning from studying abroad last spring in El Salvador, McMonigle and Padilla were eager to share their experiences with others in the Santa Clara community.
"It is amazing to see how others live outside the United States and the conditions that they live in," said Padilla. "It is so important that people realize this, and the party is a chance [for others] to know there is something bigger out there."
While the aim of the night was to raise money, what made the party successful was that it also aimed to benefit the students who attended, said McMongile.
Senior Pat Dugan was among those who attended the event. Without having the first hand experience of actually going to El Salvador, McMonigal's personal accounts were very effective in conveying an accurate portrayal of the pains poverty has inflicted upon the Salvadorian community, he said.
According to Padilla, many people were reduced to tears when McMonigal shared how common it was for families in El Salvador to force their sixth grade daughters into prostitution in order to alleviate some of the financial burdens.
Dugan recalled the particularly haunting image of young Salvadorian children bathing in industrial sewage he saw in a video shown during the party.
"These tragic realities serve as good eye openers to what really goes on in the world and reinforces the need for humility and appreciation for all that we have here," said Padilla.
McMonigle said that while the party did serve as a sad reminder of global poverty it did not spoil the night's happy and lighthearted mood. But instead it seemed to inspire people to enjoy themselves and give what ever they could.
Dugan said that throughout the night there were many people who inquired about future immersion trips to El Salvador and expressed the desire to further establish a personal relationship with this country.
Most of the people in attendance were Santa Clara seniors. However, the event still incorporated a diverse breadth of people.
"There was not just one type of person there, like you find at most parties, but a whole slew of different people," said Dugan.
Outside support was also given to the party. Stuft Pizza donated some money and napkins to the party and Robert Mondovi donated six bottles of wine. A catering service also catered the entire event free of charge.
Padilla and McMonigle said the entire night was an overwhelming success, and the two hope to make this a quarterly event.
Over the Thanksgiving break, they will travel to El Salvador and present the money to the elementary school.