It only costs $1.70 to feed a child in Kenya for one month.
Yet, so many children go unfed.
West Virginia University’s Office of International Students and Scholars is doing its part to help as many children as it can. The office will be selling raffle tickets for $1.70 each to benefit children in Kenya.
Students and employees that purchase the tickets will be entered into a raffle for a 5-foot tall Santa Claus, known in Kenya as “Father Christmas,” fashioned from weathered maple. The sculpture was donated by local artist William Mayer.
All proceeds from the tickets will go to Steve Peifer of Kenya Awareness. Peifer is a college counselor at the Rift Valley Academy outside Nairobi, Kenya, and is working with children in the Masai Mara.
Tickets will be sold Monday (Sept. 13) through Friday (Sept. 17) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Mountainlair.
“Steve Peifer is an inspiration for all of us. His work in Kenya is an example of self-sacrifice as he has tirelessly worked to help hundreds of Kenyans,” said David Stewart, associate vice president for international and global outreach. “He has an important message for this generation of college students.”
Videos about Peifer and his work will be shown at the booth, and are also available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=451a94jO5I4 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N18GF8EYtSg .
At the conclusion of the raffle, on Friday (Sept. 17), Peifer will be on campus. He will speak in Ming Hsieh Hall room G-20 at 7 p.m.
“Having traveled to Kenya and the Rift Valley Academy where Steve works, I have been fortunate to see the commitment that he and his family have made to a cause very dear to their hearts,” said Michael Wilhelm, director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. “We are honored to have him here to speak on campus.”
A representative from the Office of International Students and Scholars will present Peifer with the money and any other donations during the presentation.
More information about the fundraiser is available on the Office of International Students and Scholars website at http://oiss.wvu.edu/home/kenya_awareness_fundraiser .
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cd/09/09/10
CONTACT: Michael Wilhelm, Office of International Students and Scholars
304-293-3519, Michael.Wilhelm@mail.wvu.edu