WLOY kicks off fundraising events for Haiti with an emergency benefit relief show

With a 7.0 magnitude the earthquake in Haiti last week left over three million Haitians in need of emergency aid. Following the quake help has been flowing into Haiti, the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, including from Loyola.

Starting last Friday, January 15, WLOY has been spearheading a multitude of events in order to raise money to send to Haiti. They kicked off with an emergency benefit relief show outside Boulder Garden Café

The live show, aired from 11 am to 1pm outside Boulder Garden, was hosted by Rich Rodrigues, or Rich the DJ. The staff collected donations from passing students, faculty and members of the Loyola community. The names of those who donated at least $5 was entered into a raffle of prizes, which included ticket packages to Ramshead Live and the Recher Theather, DVDs, mugs and various CDs. So far, the events have raised upwards of well over $1,000.

"We had done a huge fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina and so we wanted to do something...to help out Haiti," says Rodrigues regarding WLOY's decision to head the relief efforts at Loyola.

The earthquake, which occurred Tuesday January 12, 2009 and 4:53 in the afternoon, took place about ten miles west of Porte-au-Prince. It sent out 33 aftershocks stemming from its epicenter, which ranged from 4.2 to 5.9, causing even more devastation.

Maureen O'Donoghue, a sophomore, talked to her sister, Sheila, who is volunteering in the Dominican Republic, days after the quake hit. "Sheila said she got really dizzy and could feel the earth moving underneath her the day it happened," said O'Donoghue.

The United Nations World Food Program flew two planes of food to Haiti in addition to a relief team from Geneva, to help with the relief efforts. Former President Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea also flew to Haiti to participate in relief work last week.

To continue their help, WLOY will be holding similar benefit broadcasts Friday, January 22, and January 29 outside Boulder Garden Café. Starting Monday January 25, members of WLOY will be going door-to-door around the dorm buildings collecting any spare change.

This past Wednesday, January 20, Rich the DJ had a spokeperson from Catholic Relief Services on the daily radio show for a half hour to dicuss what has been accomplished thus far in terms of relief work in Haiti.

Jackie Truesdale, also a sophomore, has been supporting the relief work at Loyola. "It great that Loyola came together so quickly to help out the victims in Haiti. It really shows what a caring community we have here, I am very proud to be a part of it," said Truesdale.

This coming Wednesday, in conjunction with Sodexo, WLOY is setting up a dinner event at Primo's from 4-8 pm, but details have yet to be finalized. On Thursday, the proceeds of a Sophomore Initiatives event will go towards the relief as well. All proceeds raised on campus are being sent to Haiti through the Catholic Relief Services.

Other services that are collecting monetary donations form Loyola are the Jesuit Refugee Service USA, the American Friends Service Committee and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness. More information about each of these organizations and how to donate can be found at the Center for Community Service and Justice or its website.