Festival kicks off relief effort

The IU Hurricane Katrina Student Relief Program will continue its fund-raising efforts with a festival beginning at 3 p.m. Friday in Dunn Meadow. The event will feature local musical performances, raffle prizes, dinner and educational booths from student organizations, with all proceeds being donated for hurricane relief.\n"We really encourage people to bring their wallets and make donations to this great cause," said co-coordinator and sophomore Natalie Borg, who is expecting up to 800 people to attend the six-hour event.\nWith Friday's festival, the program's planners hope to raise at least $15,000 for hurricane relief efforts. \n"Basically, our goal is to get as much student involvement as possible," said sophomore Michael Esworthy, who is also helping coordinate the event. \nEducational and fund-raising booths from more than 30 different student organizations will be set up around the field. All programming will be donation-based, and all proceeds from the event will go toward an as-yet-undecided local charity.\nRaffle tickets will be sold, with prizes ranging from restaurant and University bookstore gift certificates, Indianapolis Colts tickets and an autographed basketball and soccer ball. The tickets will cost $2 apiece. From 4 to 7 p.m., students can buy a raffle ticket for $6 and receive an Indiana Memorial Union catering services dinner in the meadow as well.\nTwo dance groups -- Sequal and the Phi Beta Sigma Step Group -- along with several local bands such as the Mitchell Street Band and the Nicotones, will perform throughout the evening while student organizations promote their fund-raising efforts. Dean of Students Richard McKaig will open the event.\nMany groups will be asking for monetary donations. Others, like the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center, the Christian Student Fellowship and Graduate Recreation Society, need supplies and are holding a canned food and clothing drive. \n"Ultimately, it will go to help the hurricane victims in Bloomington and also be transported down to the Gulf Coast region to help the victims down there," said Hillel president and senior Adam Cohen.\nPi Kappa Phi and Chi Omega will host a dunk tank and kissing booth, respectively, while the Women's Student Association will be selling mocktails -- non-alcoholic cocktails. In addition, the IU College Democrats and IU College Republicans will have a letter-writing campaign to the National Guard to thank it for its services.\nStill other organizations are selling wristbands, beads and ribbons to raise awareness about the long-lasting effects of Hurricane Katrina.\nThe festival marks the beginning of what student coordinators hope will be many more fund-raising efforts.\n"This has to be a continued effort and a continued response," said junior Catie Eggert, the Hurricane Katrina Student Relief Program coordinator.\nGroups like Habitat for Humanity have already altered large annual fund-raising events to help reach out to the hurricane-stricken areas.\nJunior Tony Bruno, IU Habitat for Humanity president, said the organization's annual charity Rake-a-Thon, which raises money by raking area lawns, is being expanded to two weekends this fall. \n"We've decided to donate 100 percent of the proceeds to Habitat for Humanity International," Bruno said. "They are playing a leading role in rebuilding the Gulf Coast region." \nLast year, Habitat for Humanity raised $4,000, and it expects to double that amount this year, he said. \n"The key is to remain aware of issues happening around the country," said IU Student Association President Alex Shortle. "This is not just a two week effort."\nShortle advised students to "stay aware and get involved" in the upcoming hurricane relief events.