Dollars for Darfur campaign begins today
Meredith Shamburger, Contributing Writer, mshamburge@smu.edu
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: News
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Today marks the kick off for the week-long Dollars for Darfur campaign, a campus-wide effort to raise $40,000 for the refugees of the Darfur conflict that has displaced more than 2.5 million people and killed more than 400,000.
Sponsored by 11 different organizations, Dollars for Darfur will feature numerous fundraisers held throughout the second week in October. All proceeds raised go directly to USA for United Nations High Council for Refugees, a non-profit organization that provides food, water, shelter and protection to refugees, which was founded in 1950 by the United Nations.
"The situation in Darfur is horrific," sophomore Mackenzie Warren, creator of the Dollars for Darfur campaign, said. "While our efforts won't solve the crisis, they will brighten the lives of a few displaced Darfurians."
According to Warren, her mission is not only to raise money for a good cause, but, more importantly, to increase awareness of global issues on the SMU campus and "unite the student body in an effort that allows us to think beyond our own comfortable existence."
"It just started off with me wanting to do something," Warren said. "Mostly I wanted to do this because this is a genocide that's taking place over there that is so unknown. It's been happening since 2003 and some people haven't heard about it; some people don't know where it is on a map. I don't care how much we raise. If one kid Googles Darfur because of this, then I'm happy."
Also during the week, the Perkins School of Theology and SMU's Human Rights Education Program are co-sponsoring the "Does Dallas Care?" symposium on Darfur on Oct. 9-11, which includes lectures and a panel discussion. On the last day, Dallas residents are encouraged to "dine for Darfur" at participating restaurants where five percent of total sales will be donated to help refugees.
"I decided to have it coordinate with the "Does Dallas Care?" conference," Warren said. "Dollars for Darfur is mostly a social and fundraising event, so it's nice to pair it with something that's more educational."
Sponsored by 11 different organizations, Dollars for Darfur will feature numerous fundraisers held throughout the second week in October. All proceeds raised go directly to USA for United Nations High Council for Refugees, a non-profit organization that provides food, water, shelter and protection to refugees, which was founded in 1950 by the United Nations.
"The situation in Darfur is horrific," sophomore Mackenzie Warren, creator of the Dollars for Darfur campaign, said. "While our efforts won't solve the crisis, they will brighten the lives of a few displaced Darfurians."
According to Warren, her mission is not only to raise money for a good cause, but, more importantly, to increase awareness of global issues on the SMU campus and "unite the student body in an effort that allows us to think beyond our own comfortable existence."
"It just started off with me wanting to do something," Warren said. "Mostly I wanted to do this because this is a genocide that's taking place over there that is so unknown. It's been happening since 2003 and some people haven't heard about it; some people don't know where it is on a map. I don't care how much we raise. If one kid Googles Darfur because of this, then I'm happy."
Also during the week, the Perkins School of Theology and SMU's Human Rights Education Program are co-sponsoring the "Does Dallas Care?" symposium on Darfur on Oct. 9-11, which includes lectures and a panel discussion. On the last day, Dallas residents are encouraged to "dine for Darfur" at participating restaurants where five percent of total sales will be donated to help refugees.
"I decided to have it coordinate with the "Does Dallas Care?" conference," Warren said. "Dollars for Darfur is mostly a social and fundraising event, so it's nice to pair it with something that's more educational."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Ashley Morris
posted 10/11/07 @ 10:31 AM CST
Congratulations on the great work you are doing to raise awareness about Darfur. If anyone knows high school or middle school students looking to get involved, the Save Darfur Coalition has a program called Dollars for Darfur. (Continued…)
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