NEWPORT, R.I. – Japanese students at Salve Regina University have been joined by their classmates on campus to organize several fundraising events next week to support their nation as it continues to struggle in the aftermath of last month's devastating earthquake and Tsunami.
"Hope for Japan" week kicks off on Monday, April 11, and students are inviting members of the Salve Regina and Aquidneck Island communities to show their support throughout the week. The students settled on "Hope for Japan" as their slogan, as "hope" is Rhode Island's official motto.
Funds raised during the week will be presented to the Japanese Consulate in Boston. Anyone interested in donating to support the students in their efforts can do so directly by visiting the Consulate's donation page at the following link: http://www.boston.us.emb-japan.go.jp/eng/2011earthquake/donations.html.
To promote "Hope for Japan" week, Salve Regina's Japanese students have produced a series of videos that have been posted on their Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hope-for-Japan/174751265908468.
The following events taking place next week in which the public is invited to participate includes:
Red and White Day
Monday, April 11 (all day).
Members of the Salve Regina community and the public can show their support by purchasing a "Hope for Japan" sticker, then dressing in red and white. Students will be stopping at offices in university buildings to sell stickers on Thursday April 7 and Friday, April 8. Stickers are $5 for faculty, staff and community members, and $3 for students.
Stickers may also be purchased in the Office of Human Resources, located on the second floor of Ochre Court, 100 Ochre Point Ave., or the Gatehouse, Ochre Point Avenue.
Hope for Japan Vigil
Tuesday, April 12 at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Chapel, Ochre Point Avenue.
The community is invited to reflections, music and a sharing of cultural customs in honor of those who were lost in the disaster and those who still endure in Japan. The prayer vigil program is as follows:
- 6:45 p.m. – Traditional Japanese music will be playing in chapel.
- 7 p.m. – Music will stop and a short clip of the earthquake will be shown.
- 7:05 p.m. – Katsu Washitani will offer a welcome and introduce the Mayor of Newport, who will give a statement.
- 7:10 p.m. – Aida Neary, International Student Advisor, will say a few words, show video clips of the earthquake and invite students to speak. A video of the tsunami will then be shown, accompanied by music and a presentation of Twitter messages in the aftermath. During the presenation, a fundraising basket for donations will be passed around.
- 7:35 p.m. – Prayer for the victims.
- 7:40 p.m. – Those in attendance will be invited to tie a ribbon on the fence outside the Chapel in honor of those who have lost their lives and for those who are still coping with the aftermath of the disaster.
Traditional Japanese music to play while people are leaving to go tie the ribbon.
Special 'Things for Thursday'
Thursday, April 14 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wakehurst
For a suggested donation of $1-$5, students and members of the public can receive a 4X6 card with their name written in Japanese. Also available will be cards in Japanese with the words: Hope, Love and Peace. "Things for Thursday" is a popular weekly event at Salve Regina.
SRU-Alert and Sushi Day
Friday, April 15 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Miley Hall
The annual testing of the SRU-Emergency Alert system will follow a tolling of the chapel in remembrance of Japanese victims. Bells will toll from noon until 12:15 p.m., at which time the test notification service will be activated. In Miley Hall, students may purchase small sushi sample plates with proceeds benefitting "Hope for Japan."