Japan Fundraiser
On March 11, 2011, two days after Utah Valley University hosted the Second International Women of the Mountains Conference, Japan was slammed by a record braking earthquake followed by a devastating Tsunami. 15,840 people lost their lives, 5,950 were injured, and over 3,600 people were left homeless. The earthquake and tsunami were responsible for major flooding, landslides, building and infrastructure damage in the billions of dollars, and some nuclear incidents including radiation releases and reactor meltdowns.
Students UVU – members of the organizing committee for
Japan fundraising, left to right: Kevin Wrigley,
Daniel Burns, Christina Loewe, and Linda McPharlin
During the Women of the Mountains Conference, participants of the conference stressed the importance of creating stronger ties between mountainous communities around the world. They also called for the Rocky Mountain Community to provide a platform for honest exchange of ideas, technology, and expertise, and the support to other mountainous regions of the world, with the aim of improving the lives of the mountain people everywhere.
The disaster in Japan presented the students of the UVU sustainable mountain development (SMD) club with its first challenge to apply the very things that it had been advocating for. The SMD club felt it was its duty to arrange any type of help for those affected by the devastating earthquakes and tsunami.
On April 7, 2011, members of the sustainable development club of UVU mobilized close to 20 students from Utah Valley University and started raising funds to help those affected. In just 3 days, the SMD club was able to raise over 2,000 dollars by hosting a small cookie bake sell, accepting donations from fellow Utah Valley University Students, and selling pizza. Taking into account that this small fundraising effort was put together in just a few days, the operation was a complete success. Not only was the SMD club able to collect donations during those days, but it was also able to raise awareness and educate the students at Utah Valley University about the seriousness of the catastrophic events in Japan, as well as encouraged hundreds to donate money towards the cause through a non-profit of their choice. Most students approached by the SMD club accepted the challenge.
After raising the money, the SMD club was able to work with Salt Lake City, a member of the United Nations related Mountain Partnership, to ensure that the money raised through the fundraising efforts was delivered to those in Japan. The City of Salt Lake opened a bank account were the SMD club was able to transfer the fundraising money. The money was sent to Salt Lake City’s sister city, Matsumoto, Japan.
Because the members of the SMD club understand the severity of the events, and know that it will take years for Japan to stabilize and re-construct, they are currently planning to continue with its fundraising efforts in the coming year. The members of the SMD club hope that their efforts will make a difference in the life of at least a single individual, but hopes that its actions will have a domino effect and promote a spirit of service and giving for the bettering of the mountain regions of the world.
Reynaldo Benitez, student of UVU, co-president of the SMD club and member of the students Organizing Committee of the second International Conference Women of the Mountains
Additional fundraising poster
