This sunday, CU students will host a fundraiser, An Evening of Verbal Riddem and Art, at the Trilogy Wine Bar from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
The purpose of the fundraiser is to support Balmagie Primary-an inner city school in Kingston, Jamaica, grades one through six. The school has a capacity of 160 students and an enrollment of 1,319 students.
The fundraiser is a project for Marcia Douglas’ Caribbean Literature class.
The class, which consists of about 30 students, has been planning and organizing the event throughout this semester.
“The school is overcrowded and understaffed, and I am aware of their need and thought that they would be a good candidate for the benefit,” Douglas said. “They don’t have a lot and they will be very appreciative of what they will receive.”
Douglas, an associate professor with the English department, is originally from Jamaica and has organized fundraisers for the same school before. The goal of Sunday’s fundraiser is to purchase and ship computers and school supplies to this school. Last year, another set of students sent books after working on a benefit for the same school.
“I went to the school and they are well aware of the fundraisers and appreciative and happy that we are doing this for them. It made sense to do a second project with them and follow through with computers,” Douglas said .
The event will include spoken work performances by Douglas, Vincent Woodard, Ruth Kocher and Reiland Rabaka. There will also be music performed by sire, everREDIkaammp and am1190 RastaExperience.
The entry fee is $5 and Douglas said additional donations are appreciated as well. The event is open to all ages.
Senior English major Stu Bryner, a student in Douglas’ class said ticket presales for the event have been good. Bryner hopes for a great community response to the fundraiser.
“I think it’s going to be a great event and I’m hoping for a good turnout for a great cause,” Bryner said. “It’s good that people want to put this together. I feel honored to be a part of it.”
