Tsunami effort nears $140,000

By Liz Weeker

Just three weeks after University President Paul Locatelli, S.J., sent an e-mail to all students, faculty and staff of Santa Clara calling for donations to aid tsunami relief efforts, the community has raised almost $140,000.

The university had already surpassed its record for disaster relief fund raising at the $50,000 mark two weeks ago.

Previously, Santa Clara raised about $13,500 for the victims of an earthquake in El Salvador in the mid-90s.

"There are still donations coming in," said Jim Briggs, executive assistant to the president. "It's certainly exceeded our expectations."

The total amount is a collection of gifts from the Jesuit community, the President's Fund and Sunday mass contributions. But according to Locatelli, a majority of the funds were raised by students, faculty and staff.

Briggs expects donation checks to be sent next week to several organizations, including the Catholic Relief Service, the Jesuit Provincial of Sri Lanka and Jesuit Refugee Services.

Some students have taken leading roles in organizing donation efforts.

First year law students Paola Estanislao and Vijay Bakhru collected $815 in front of the Shapell Lounge in early January, offering donuts to those who donated.

Last week, Mayka Mei, director of the Mulitcultural Center, helped to launch fund raising efforts during MCC Week.

Mei is pleased with the continued support in spite of a drop off in mainstream news coverage on the tsunami disaster.

"I think it's good that people still have a chance to help when they weren't able before," said Mei.

Funds raised by the MCC will go directly to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.