Sri Lanka: The Road to Recovery
— Organizations to Benefit from ISLE Funds
— How to Help/Opportunities in Sri Lanka
— 1/11/05 Report from Sri Lanka (by Sree Padma Holt)
THE ISLE RELIEF FUND
In the wake of the devastating tsunami in 2004, many ISLE alumni asked how they might contribute to the tsunami relief effort in Sri Lanka, and what those of us connected to ISLE could do. In response, the ISLE Program established a disaster relief fund, and many ISLE alumni made generous contributions to it. The administrator of the program, Sree Padma Holt, visited Sri Lanka immediately after the disaster, and so was able to garner a strong sense of the relief effort's strengths and weaknesses. Dispersement of funds began in February, 2005. For information on relief fund recipients, go here.
FUND TOTAL
A total of more than $23,000 was raised for the ISLE relief effort fund.
Bowdoin College donated $5000, as did consortium college Holy Cross, in Worcester, MA. Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, another consortium college, made a $3000 donation to the fund. We thank them all for their abundant generosity.
The fund received a total of approximately $6100 from friends and program alumni. The ISLE Program made a "matching donation" of $5000, as pledged.
The outpouring of concern and generosity has been astounding, and we thank everyone who has given, with love in our hearts.
Among the contributions:
We'd like to thank Tammis Lareau and Matt Loosigian for holding their "Celebrate Life" fundraiser at Bowdoin, and for the generous donation of $225. We'd also like to thank all the families who came out that cold February afternoon to participate!
ISLE was surprised and delighted to receive a check in April from Carleton College students who held a number of fund-raising events after the disaster, raising over $1000.
Students at Whitman College also held a series of fundraisers, and over $600 was raised for relief efforts, with half of the money going to the ISLE fund. A big "thank you" to 2004 ISLE program participant Sarah "Grin" Geiss Trusz for heading that up!
Every penny donated to the relief effort through the ISLE fund will find its way directly to organizations benefitting those most in need. We are so grateful for these campus-group efforts, and for helping us reach our goal.
ISLE would also like to publicly thank friends and alumni who made extremely generous individual donations: Elizabeth Pritchard, Jean Evans, Jon Walters, Roger Jackson, John and Dot Mitchell, James Frisbie, and Leslie W. Burlock, and others.
A Special Thank-You
The first donation received at the ISLE office was from Jennifer Swenson (Carleton), who participated in ISLE in 1992 and returned to Sri Lanka as an assistant in 1995. Thank you, Jennifer, and thank you again to all the alumni who have contacted us about giving.
(A tip of the hat also goes to a student who is anticipating the 2005 program, who signed over a $100 birthday check to the fund. This, before even experiencing Sri Lanka first-hand!)
These kindnesses are crucial in our ever-shrinking world.
HOW TO DONATE
Please send your check, made out to "Bowdoin College ISLE Program," to:
ISLE Program
4400 College Station
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME 04011
Please write on the memo line: "Sri Lanka disaster relief."
Please note that ISLE is not a non-profit charitable organization, and therefore these contributions are not tax deductible.
(Did you know that one dollar in Sri Lanka has approximately four times the buying power it has here in the U.S.? Your donations can go a long way.)
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Get more information on organizations and opportunities for getting involved in rebuilding Sri Lanka.
HARROWING STORIES
One of the 2004 student assistants,
Tristan Gleason (Bowdoin, 2002) actually managed to swim to safety when the tsunamis struck. You can read the first part of his story here.
ISLE Professor Udaya Meddegama (Myth and Ritual), sent an email recounting his terrifying and strange experience. Read it here.