News

Recap of Friday's Dance Party & Raffle: Superstorm Relief

11-Nov-2012

To All Students,

Thank you so much for your supporting this past Friday's "Dance Party & Raffle: Superstorm Relief" and making it happen!

It was a challenge to pull it off with only a few days notice to all of you, but the amazing response from everyone here, out-of-state, and even overseas was nothing short of overwhelming and very humbling. Between raffle ticket sales and straight donations we raised $3000 in one night! If anyone asked how much I thought we could raise, I honestly could not have answered but... I am so happy to report that we did so well.

We had well over 50 prizes (and that's a conservative estimate), and had such an incredible variety of baskets, items and services offered that the winners of each raffle went home happy and were the envy of those who weren't holding the lucky tickets, myself included. Not only was the event well-attended, but the evening was a lot of fun and filled with great energy and laughter.

Thank you for stepping forward and making it count. I know it was difficult for quite a number of you to attend, but it was great that you did what you could to be part of the effort, nonetheless, and reach out in one way or another, be it by donating items, buying tickets or spreading the word. We are carefully researching how to best allocate the $3000 to effectively reach those who are most in need and yield more direct, tangible results. We'll let you know how the funds we raised have ultimately been distributed.

Apart from this fundraiser, I realize some of you may already have or are also doing something on your own. Personally, it made me feel really good to take some kind of action, however small, to help with such a daunting recovery effort to rebuild our city and surrounding areas that were completely destroyed by a hurricane that left so many people's lives still greatly disrupted. Adding to that... that we did this together as a group -- as Seido -- made it that much more meaningful and rewarding to collectively pull together to do something which is precisely at the heart of who we are and what we are all about.

We all did a really good thing.

Osu,
Nidaime