Students Plan Haiti Relief Concert

Students organize fundraiser at Carlisle Theatre to aid earthquake survivors

February 6, 2010

Alexandra Baranick '10 (left) and Lee Tankle '10 are leading student efforts to raise money for Haiti earthquake survivors.

Students will hold a Haiti earthquake relief benefit concert at the Carlisle Theatre Friday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. Two nonprofit organizations with Dickinson alumni connections, ServeHaiti and EcoFiltro, have been selected to receive the funds to provide direct support to earthquake survivors.

Students hope to raise $10,000 at the concert and with other fundraising activities on campus. Tickets for the concert are $10; donations of larger amounts will be accepted.

Scheduled performers include Synergy, Hypnotic, Third Degree Step Team, Dance Theatre Group, Octals, Syrens, Infernos, D-Tones, the Dickinson College string quartet, REACH! and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. The concert is a collaborative effort between the college and the Carlisle Theatre.

Tickets go on sale Monday, Feb. 8, at the Carlisle Theatre on High Street and at the Devils Den and college bookstore at the lower level of the Holland Union Building (HUB) during their regular business hours. Tickets also will be sold Feb. 8-12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the lower level of the HUB.

A standing-room crowd of more than 130 students attended a recent organizational meeting at the college to discuss ways to help survivors of the Jan. 12 earthquake.

“We’re pleased we have so many student organizations and individuals who want to be involved,” said Alexandra Baranick ’10, who is organizing the event with senior Lee Tankle ’10, president of the Student Senate.

“I'm not surprised by the great student response,” Tankle added. “We live in a kind and caring community of individuals who are willing to help anybody, whether they are here in Carlisle or on the other side of the world. I think the benefit concert and fundraising activities are not only a great way to help the people of Haiti but it helps to strengthen the relationship between the college and Carlisle.

Money raised at the college will be donated to ServeHaiti and for the purchase of EcoFiltro water filters, which will be donated to earthquake survivors.

ServeHaiti brings teams of medical professionals and laypersons with supplies and medicines to do medical triage and special projects in Haiti. Peter Anderson ’73, is treasurer and a member of the board of directors of ServeHaiti, which he helped establish in 2001. His daughter Hannah '13 also helps with ServeHaiti.

EcoFiltro water filters are made in 16 countries. Christine Wilson ’93 produces 2,500 filters a month at her organic coffee farm in Guatemala. The filters, made of clay, sawdust and coated with anti-bacterial colloidal silver, reduce the incidence of water-borne ailments by more than 50 percent.

For more information about the concert and to donate to the Haiti Relief fund, call (717) 245-1577.