Tsunami Relief: Campus fund-raising efforts

Cantina Del Cabo weekend raises $62,000 plus

The Davis Tsunami Relief Fund Dinner at Cantina Del Cabo collected more than $62,000 over its two-day stint in late January.

UC Davis students were active participants in the community effort, working with community members to sell tickets, distribute posters and fliers and attend meetings for the event, said Ben Smith, CalPIRG campus organizer.

Since the event, a UC Davis intern and Smith have been developing a template of the Cantina Del Cabo event.

Smith said he hopes that Davis can serve as "a model for how a community can come together for disaster relief or even to combat a long- term troubling issue like hunger and homelessness."

Dining commons swipe program raises $8,644

UC Davis students donated $4,146 to Oxfam International’s South Asian relief efforts Jan. 18-20 through a dining commons swipe program, reports Bob Smiggen, director of UC Davis Student Housing.

"As always, the students came through in a big way. They were very appreciative to have the opportunity to support such a wonderful effort in humanity," Smiggen said.

Total student participating numbered 1,079. The "Swipe for Relief" fund-raiser was supported by University Dining Service by Sodexho, Student Housing and CalPIRG.

Students with meal plans signed up to donate a meal at the entrance of each dining facility. From each of these “swipes” and also from all meals purchased with cash, Sodexho donated $2 to Oxfam International. Sodexho also pledged to match the total amount that the campus can raise in the “Swipe for Relief” effort.

In total, the dinings common effort raised $8,644, according Ben Smith, CalPIRG campus organizer.

Pin sale was a successful fund-raiser

The Red Cross International received $1,572 thanks to a fund-raiser by the Cal Aggie Student Alumni Network, which coordinated the effort with several campus organizations.

Through the Project Wave of Hope, the students sold 875 UC Davis pins with blue and white ribbons symbolizing care and hope for the tsunami victims. The pins were sold at a booth in front of the Coffee House near the Quad Jan. 18-20.

Cardiologist seeks help for Sri Lankan medical school

UC Davis Medical Center cardiologist and Sri Lanka native C. Tissa Kappagoda is working to assist the medical school at the University of Ruhuna in Galle, a Sri Lankan town that has been hit hard by the Tsunami. Nearly 4,500 from the area are known dead and 500 are still missing. Six physicians working in Galle hospitals are feared dead and many more have been displaced. Two medical student hostels have been washed away, and the full extent of damage to other properties is unknown.

The Ruhuna Faculty of Medicine Teachers' Association is collecting contributions to provide for the following immediate needs:  food, drugs and shelter. In addition, longer term goals include re-starting the medical education program and rebuilding houses and hostels.

Kappagoda, who attended medical school in Sri Lanka, has a personal connection to the medical school at the University of Ruhuna. In the past, he has taught workshops there and, in addition, one of his former post-doctoral fellows at UC Davis, Sampath Gunawardene, is currently the head of the school’s department of physiology.

In light of the urgency of the situation, Kappagoda has been helping to collect contributions to pass on to the faculty quickly. Unfortunately these donations are not tax deductible, and he says he has not tried to enlist any of the aid agencies because they could not guarantee that funds would be sent to this particular program in a timely manner. He welcomes any contributions as well as any suggestions that could help the effort.  Contact: Tissa Kappagoda, Internal Medicine, (530) 754-8483, ctkappagoda@ucdavis.edu.

To post information about campus fund-raising efforts, please contact Susanne Rockwell, UC Davis News Service, (530) 752-2542.