As part of its efforts to raise money to send to needy Brazilians, Lambda Upsilon Lambda fraternity is sponsoring a party on Feb. 14 in Collis Commonground, where students will be asked to make small cash or DASH contributions.
The fraternity distributes nonperishable goods to 13 poor rural families on a monthly basis in Tome de Geru, Brazil. Seventy percent of the beneficiaries of this program are children. They also donate to another organization, which provides perishable goods, such as fruit and meat, to an orphanage in Salvador.
LUL has a Brazilian liaison who is loosely affiliated with the organization and who distributes the money raised at Dartmouth to the various charities.
"She is a full-time Brazilian resident interested in community service who was known by one of the brothers," said LUL Vice President Thiago Oliveira '06.
According to Oliveira, members wire money to the liaison.
"She then distributes the money between the two programs and provides pictures, receipts and progress reports so that we know our money is being well spent."
Oliveira said he hopes the pictures and progress reports will be used to bolster fundraising efforts around the College. The organization accepts either direct donations or donation matching commitments.
The Feb. 14 party, cosponsored by La Alianza Latina, is part of a larger effort on the part of the fraternity to raise money for these programs. LUL has emailed Dartmouth students and student groups asking for sponsorship. They have also asked local businesses for donations.
"We've blitzed out asking student organizations to donate through their ORL accounts," Oliveira said. "We've only heard back from one. Obviously, we're hoping more decide to help out."
The project is one of many analogous activities conducted nationwide through the national organization. Oliveira and other members have worked closely with chapters in the northeast, including Wesleyan University's LUL organization.
