When: March 4, 2009: 9PM-11PM

Where: Mad River Manayunk

What: $5 cover, $2 BUD / BUD LIGHTS, $2 U-CALL-IT'S, From 9PM-11PM

Featuring KRISTEN AND THE NOISE

Why: Raise money for Haiti

Be sure to tell door person you want your cover to go to Haiti!

After the devastating events in Haiti my roommate Maggie Lively (SJU ’10) had approached me about the ideas she had in response to the earthquake. In the summer of 2008 Maggie had traveled to Milow, Haiti with the Knights of Malta international humanitarian group and aided a local Haitian hospital on a medical relief mission. Once she had returned from her time spent in Haiti she developed a connection to the people, and when news broke about the high magnitude earthquake she knew we had to find a way to help.  After spending an afternoon brainstorming with our roommate Elizabeth Rohrman (SJU ’10) the three of us enlisted the help of the SJU Men’s Basketball Team along with our friend and team manager Brittany Keesling (SJU ’10) to set up an event to raise awareness and funds to aid Port-Au-Prince.  Together, we brought our ideas to a town hall meeting set up by Saint Joseph’s University.

As a Jesuit University, SJU prides itself in our Ignation education and ideals as “Men and Women for others,” and meetings regarding service missions and relief trips are common place on our campus. The meeting was lead by Vice President of Mission and Identity Mr. Eli Springs Steele and fellow student Tina Cerin (SJU ’11.) Tina had just returned from Port-Au-Prince the night before our meeting was held. As a resident of the area, Tina was able to provide those present a unique insight on the tragedy, as she had experienced it firsthand.  By the end of the meeting we had developed the concept of dedicating a whole week on campus towards raising money through different events .The week was kicked-off by a shootout competition with the Men’s Basketball Team during halftime at our game against Temple University held at the Palestra. The committee was mainly student run, with help from the Vice President of Student Life; Dr. Mary-Elaine Perry, head of the Office of Multicultural Life; Shoshanna Edwards-Alexander and the SJU Caribbean Student Association (CSA.)

The committee and week would both be named “Hawks for Haiti.” The organization the university had decided to donate our proceeds to is named FONHEP; a charity to rebuild the Haitian education system. Elizabeth Rohrman (SJU ’10) designed T-Shirts for the committee members to sell all around campus for the week. At $10.00 a shirt, 100% of the proceeds were sent directly to the charity, this was made possible by the generous funding of Dr. Perry and the Office of Missions. Also, all the money raised from the $5.00 entry fees to the shootout competition were given directly to the foundation. 

Throughout our meetings that lead up to the fundraising week, other events such as a rock benefit concert, bake sale and Haitian dinner were also organized. I myself had introduced the idea of a guest-bartending night at local Manayunk hot spot Mad River Bar and Grille, conveniently located on Main Street. I felt it was a great opportunity to not only include current SJU students but also alums, outside members of our community, and students of other surrounding Philadelphia schools to band together for a good cause and a good time.

After contacting Mad River Manayunk manager Jamie Powell, we were able to work together to set up three shifts throughout the night with our committee members all from the class of 2010. Our committee’s head of advertising Jessica Kozel,  along with general members Hillary Geremia and Joseph Mirarchi, signed up to join my roommates Maggie Lively, Elizabeth Rohrman and myself ??" Nicole Padilla to take on the duties behind the bar for the night.

The event was originally scheduled for Thursday, February 25th; but unfortunately, due to the inclement weather we were forced to postpone the event to THIS Thursday, MARCH 4TH.  The drink specials are the usual Thursday night discount of $2.00 Bud and Bud Light Bottles as well as $2.00 “U-Call-Its” and runs from 9PM-11PM, however Hawks for Haiti bartenders will be present until Midnight. Guest Band Kristen and the Noise will go on at 10PM ensuring an energy-packed event. 

**It is important that all attending this event tell the hostess at the door you would like your $5.00 cover to go towards the SJU Hawks for Haiti Relief Fundraiser; just like all the other fundraising events held throughout the previous week 100% of the proceeds from the event will be going towards the FONHEP charity organization.  With no real monetary goals set, the Hawks for Haiti organization went into this process with the sole intention to help in any way we could. If simply 100 people who attend request for their cover charge to be donated, we can add $500 to the money raised from the previous last week. It is important that as an organization we send a special thanks to senior Mary Kate McCoog, and all our general committee members who have aided in running the fundraising events. We hope to see you out on Thursday night!

Thank You again DRINK PHILLY for all your help, we greatly appreciate it!