Japan Relief Fundraiser: Pacific Rim disaster hits close to home for SFU students and alumni

SOURCE: Japan Relief Fundraiser – http://lumioso.com/japanfundraiser

March 21, 2011 (Vancouver, BC) – The earthquake and tsunami that recently wreaked havoc on Japan has stolen the lives and wellbeing from countless individuals. This disaster has touched the lives of many of the students and alumni of SFU.

To this end, a group of them have united to organize the Japan Relief Fundraiser on April 2, 2011. The event is a chance for SFU students and alumni, many of whom have family and friends who were in Japan at the time of the disaster, to take an active role in supporting the country as it rebuilds.

With friends overseas in Japan and many Japanese-Canadian friends, Gurjeet Singh, an SFU Beedie School of Business graduate, feels a strong connection to the country and what has happened. Singh says that it is this concern for his friends and their families that has driven him to organize the Japan Relief Fundraiser. “It is times like these that you need to depend on people you trust; people in your networks” says Singh. “The help and support we’ve received from our SFU network has been astounding. Everyone from alumni to first years, Business to Arts, staff and faculty, it’s been fantastic!” To date, 30-plus SFU students and alumni have come together to support the Japan Relief Fundraiser.

Michelle Se, a fourth year SIAT and Communications student at SFU says that the Japan Relief Fundraiser is a chance to take an active role in the relief effort. “This is not simply about donating money to the relief effort in Japan,” says Se. “It is also an important opportunity to show that our hearts are with all those who were affected in Japan and everywhere along the Pacific Rim.”

The organizers of the event have felt the affects of the disaster in some way or another. SFU graduate Isabella Shin has family spread throughout Japan and has felt compelled to take part in the event.

The Japan Relief Fundraiser will include dinner and entertainment at Shiang Garden (2200 – 4540 No. 3 Road, Richmond) — with the restaurant generously donating a portion of their proceeds from the evening to the Red Cross. The night will begin and end with silent auctions and raffles with proceeds donated to the Red Cross relief efforts in Japan.

The Japan Relief Fundraiser will be held on April 2, 2011 at 6:30 PM. For more information about the event visit http://www.lumioso.com/japanfundraiser.

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Contact:
Gurjeet Singh, Japan Relief Fundraiser
gurjeets87@gmail.com