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Valentine's Event To Raise Money

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By LENORA LAKE

llake@tampatrib.com

Published: February 11, 2009

USF CAMPUS - Some University of South Florida students want to get a hands-on chance to bring humanitarian aid to a developing country.

They hope a Valentine's Day-themed fundraiser will bring them closer to their goal of assisting a Dominican Republic community with safe, clean water or other vital needs.

Nine students are planning three trips to the Caribbean country, which was hard-hit last year by hurricanes and tropical storms. They are part of the Global Health Student Association, a 200-member organization that tries to improve health conditions locally and globally. The association also provides a network with local professionals in the health field.

"Our idea is to focus on water sanitation," said Darcy Webber, a graduate student in public health and vice president of the organization. "It is a huge issue, but if anything else comes up, we will focus on that, too."

The students plan a mid-March trip during spring break to conduct a needs assessment, a summer trip to do the service project and a fall trip as a follow up.

"We are taking a different approach than many projects," said Jadie Knight, another public health graduate student who is assisting with the organizing of the trip. "We will see what they consider their needs are."

Knight said that if the residents need purification of water, they will install a simple filtration system during the summer trip.

"It is important to understand the needs and beliefs of the community," Knight said. "That will result in a lot more involvement and ownership of the project."

She said it will cost about $600 per student for the first trip. To raise money, the organization will host the Valentine's Day-themed social at 5 p.m. Friday in the College of Public Health. The event is open to the public, and wine tasting will be available to those 21 and older. Nonalcoholic drinks also will be available.

The wines will be from the United States, Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia to reflect the global efforts in public health.

Local stores and friends of the organizers are donating wine, chocolates and Valentine-themed prizes such as flowers, movie tickets and champagne, Knight said. More donations are welcome.

BE SOCIAL

WHAT: Wine tasting with chocolates and prizes

WHEN: 5 p.m. Friday

WHERE: USF College of Public Health lobby, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

SUGGESTED DONATION: $2 per taste or $10 for all

NEEDS: Cash donations (through the USF Foundation), wine, chocolate items for an auction

INFORMATION: (813) 974-4718

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851.

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