Weekend relief efforts net $18,000

From downtown parties to comedy performances, Penn students raised about $18,000 this past week alone for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

On Wednesday, a group of Penn students from New Orleans hosted a party at Cavanaugh's River Deck entitled "Katrina Blows: A Benefit to Rebuild New Orleans."

"I was very happy to see so many people from all over the University come," said College senior Melanie Sheen, a native of New Orleans. "It really showed that everyone cared."

In addition to selling tickets, the group also sold T-shirts that contributed to an estimated total revenue of $6,000, which will be donated to Habitat for Humanity's Katrina-relief fund.

"It's very depressing to watch the news and see pictures of your city so empty; it's like a ghost town down there," Sheen said.

Many restaurants around Philadelphia also donated gift certificates, and Cavanaugh's River Deck donated its entire space for the cause.

Theos, a student organization formerly affiliated with a fraternity, hosted a party at the Eighth Street Lounge on Thursday. Although the event was limited to students 21 years old and older, the group raised nearly $4,000, which it donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for Hurricane Katrina.

"This is something that we felt we had to do, totally disregarding what group you are in," College sophomore and Theos Vice President Alex Haskell said. "We pride ourselves in throwing some of the best parties at Penn, so combining that with giving to an extremely worthy cause seemed perfect."

On Saturday, two more student groups sponsored events.

Four comedy groups on campus -- Simply Chaos, Without a Net, Bloomers and Mask and Wig -- hosted their third annual "Charitable Laughter" show.

This year, the groups are donating more than $1,000 to the American Red Cross Katrina Fund.

College senior Carleigh Krubiner, chairwoman of Singers, Musicians and Comedians, a division of the Performing Arts Council, thought that the event was "a great success."

"It's a great event for us to foster community between the performing arts groups, and it's a great way to raise money for a good cause," she added.

Finally, on Saturday evening, Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Phi and Pi Kappa Phi hosted an event downtown at Club 27.

"There was an opportunity to do something, not just one house but multiple houses across campus," said Sam Kolbert-Hyle, a Wharton junior and fundraising chairman of AEPi.

The event raised $7,000 for the Red Cross, and event organizers are hoping to have their efforts matched by local Philadelphia businesses.

American Red Cross spokesman Patrick Boyle said that more than $900 million has been raised nationally for Katrina relief.

"I think when students make an effort, it certainly adds up," said Boyle. "Those couple of hundreds, couple of thousands adds up ... to significant benefits to the people that need it."

Money raised New Orleans students: $6,000 Theos: $4,000 Comedy groups: $1,000 Greeks: $7,000 Total: $18,000

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