International Students Hold Benefit for Philippine Relief and Rebuilding

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A group of students from the University of Arkansas music department will perform a benefit concert, “Hope after Haiyan,” at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall. The concert is being held to raise money for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. A reception will follow after the concert.

All proceeds from the benefit will go to the Philippine Red Cross and to Gawad Kalinga (Give Care), a Philippine relief organization engaged in rehabilitating and reconstructing homes damaged or destroyed in the typhoon.

The event is organized by the Fulbright Scholars at University of Arkansas, a registered student organization at the U of A, in cooperation with the office for International Students and Scholars and the Northwest Arkansas Filipino American Association.

“Filipino students at the university, and members of the Filipino community in Northwest Arkansas, have been horrified by the scenes of the devastation from our homeland, and the stories we have heard from our families and friends,” Missy Maramara, a Fulbright Scholar from the Philippines and founding vice president of Fulbright Scholars at University of Arkansas. “The concern expressed by Americans and the international community here in the university greatly alleviates the helplessness we Filipinos feel being so far away from home. As international students, FSUA members are focused on transforming this concern into concrete actions. We are doing everything we can to support the relief and rebuilding efforts, and we are very grateful to anyone who attends this concert, or makes any kind of donation.”

The classical concert will feature an international group of students from the U of A department of music: Melis Soyarslan, Fulbright Scholar, Turkey; Helena Aung, Thailand; and Christine Hsu, U.S.A., on piano; Manchusa Loungsangroong, Thailand, on clarinet; and voice student Christopher Senty, U.S.A.

Tickets to the concert are available at the Arkansas Union between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, through Friday, Dec. 6. Members of Fulbright Scholars at University of Arkansas will be at ticket tables outside the Union and by the Union Food Court.  

The suggested donation for tickets is $5 for students and $10 for non-students. Seating at the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall is limited to about 250 people. Anyone wishing to make a donation to Hope after Haiyan without receiving a ticket is welcome to do so.

Donations to Hope after Haiyan can also be made by sending a check to Director, Sponsored Student Programs, 213 Ozark Hall, 340 N. Campus Dr., University Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR  72701. Make the check payable to Fulbright Scholars at University of Arkansas.

Donations can also be made online directly to the organizations at www.redcross.org.ph/donate or www.gk-usa.org/donations. Anyone who sends the donation confirmation page to fsua@uark.edu, or presents it at a ticket table can receive a ticket to the concert.