(posted by Better World Books alum Natasha Harris)
I was delighted to have attended the Nev-Cal Phi Theta Kappa Spring Regional Conference in San Diego this past weekend. What a blast! In the fall Better World Books had agreed to embark on an initiative with the Nev-Cal PTK region to fundraise for a very wonderful non-profit organization called Bridge 2 Peace (www.bridge2peace.org), which services a school in tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka. We never imagined at that time how successful this initiative would be (we should have known better – when DOESN’T Phi Theta Kappa exceed our expectations?). In total, Nev-Cal PTK members raised $2,237.25 through this fundraiser last semester. This money, raised through running book drives, is going directly into a travel fund that will pay airfare for PTK students in the Nev-Cal Region traveling to the Bridge 2 Peace school this summer. In total, participating students will be there for six full weeks to teach English and work with students, and we can’t wait to hear stories after their return! I’m so excited to be able to support this partnership, and hope to triple the amount of money raised NOW in the spring semester!
As you can see, we took some great pictures this weekend. This first is of Nelioufer Jayawardana and I. Nelioufer is Sri-Lankan born and very involved with Bridge 2 Peace.
The second photo is of Zoie Lewandowski (Palomar), Jason Dunn (Palomar), Kurt Meyer (Irvine Valley College, Advisor), Me (Natasha, BWB) and Nelioufer. Nelioufer had just accepted a Better World Books check on behalf of Bridge 2 Peace.
Zoie, Jason and Kurt will all three be traveling to Southeast Asia this summer to teach at the Bridge 2 Peace school in Sri Lanka. I’ve asked them to take lots of pictures while they’re overseas, and will post some on this blog when they get back. We wish them all the best! Go PTK!
