Fill the Helmet for American Samoa Tsunami Relief Effort!

World Vision has an unprecedented opportunity to raise funds for the American Samoa response through a partnership with the University of Washington. Other universities also are interested in a similar fund raising opportunity.

On Saturday (Oct. 10), World Vision’s response in Samoa will be featured at the U.W.’s Husky football game. An estimated 60,000 people are expected to attend the game, and will have the opportunity to contribute cash to the ongoing relief and recovery effort. Donations for this “Fill the Helmet” event will be collected at entrances to Husky stadium. All donations will go directly to World Vision for use in the American Samoa relief and recovery effort. Donate online to American Samoa Relief Effort.

American Samoa, a U.S. territory in the South Pacific, is reeling from a tsunami triggered September 29th by an 8.0 magnitude earthquake. At least 150 people were killed, and many villages were completely destroyed by waves that surged as high as 20 feet. World Vision is on the scene to determine needs and provide emergency items desperately needed by families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed. Currently, 250 homes have been destroyed, and many more are damaged. Many schools and churches also have been destroyed or damaged.

World Vision is providing essentials for urgent needs, such as medical supplies, personal care items, cleaning supplies, schools supplies, and basics like pillows, sheets, towels, and washcloths. We are working closely with the sizable Samoan community in the Seattle area to support this disaster response. We plan to remain in American Samoa for six months, following our ongoing relief response with recovery efforts.

Before and during the Husky-Arizona game, World Vision will be featured though:

• Interviews on KJR radio’s pre-game show.
• A 30-second World Vision PSA being aired on big screen.
• Coaching staff wearing World Vision patches on their jackets.
• Announcements of the fund raising opportunity on U.W.’s Go Huskies and Coach Sark’s Web sites, Facebook, and Twitter.
• U.W. sending an e-mail blast about the fund raising opportunity to all season ticket holders.
• Video being made of Samoan players sharing their thoughts about the tsunami and this fund raising effort.

World Vision is excited about and thankful for this community-based support, and for the fund raising opportunities and partnership with the University of Washington. We also are working with other universities interested in similar partnerships.

All photos in this article are from Reuters/courtesy www.Alertnet.org