June 28, 2007 – The efforts of two caring high school students, who collaborated with the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts on St. Croix (CMCArts), have resulted in a $10,000 donation to Aidchild, a not-for-profit organization who cares for Ugandan orphans living with HIV/AIDS.
More than two years ago, the students attended a presentation which opened their eyes, and hearts, to the plight of Ugandan orphans living with AIDS. Determined to make a difference, they began planning a fundraiser, which eventually raised $10,000 for the cause.
The Country Day School students, Sade Balwant and Jenna Lee Thomas, attended a presentation held at their school by Nathaniel Dunigan, the founder and director of Aidchild, a St. Croix-based foundation. They listened as Dunigan related alarming statistics of more than two million orphans in Uganda – most of them HIV positive.
After speaking with their art teacher Monica Marin, the two AP (Advanced Placement) art students wrote letters to other St. Croix schools, encouraging them to be a part of a fundraising art show to benefit these unfortunate children. They set a fundraising goal of $10,000 and contacted the CMCArts in Frederiksted, who agreed to sponsor the event. Four high schools donated their original works for the show, and many students donated their time organizing the event.
Dunigan added to the collection by donating artwork from established Ugandan artists. The show, entitled "Visions for Humanity," opened May 5, with more than 200 art enthusiasts attending and ready to contribute to the cause by purchasing original artwork.
"The money raised will translate into a lot of help for the kids and that is what we wanted," said Thomas. "We are really happy." The 18-year-old recently graduated and is looking forward to attending the University of Florida in the fall.
Balwant was equally pleased. "I'm really happy. We set out with the goal and it felt good to donate and help other people." Balwant, 17, also recently graduated and will attend the Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Calif., majoring in international economics with a minor in arts.
CMCArts Development Director Emily Graci commented, "We were pleased to have the Museum Center sponsor this event and support our local, talented young artists in their noble efforts to help others in need." Pleased and humbled by the entire experience, Dunigan said, "I will never cease to be amazed at the power of active compassion. This fundraiser has resulted in funding that will pay for months and months of medication for the precious ones in our care. All because Jenna and Sade not only felt compassion, but they acted! It is so very, very special. We are so grateful to them, to the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts, Country Day School, and all the others who worked so hard to help our kids."
For more information on Aidchild, visit the Web site at www.aidchild.org.
