The University of Denver community is organizing three events to raise funds for the devestated victims of south Asia after the tragic tsunami ravaged the area last month.

Individuals and groups at DU are organizing relief efforts and prayer vigils, but many students, faculty and staff are still searching for a way to be involved. Organized efforts are still in need of individual support.

*In the midst of fund-raising efforts, Campus Crusade leadership team member Caitlin Hutchins said that the campus is in need of “time for community observance.” Campus Crusade will hold a prayer vigil on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 9 p.m. in Evans Chapel to observe the one-month anniversary of the tsunami.

“Everyone is invited to come,” said Hutchins. “If you pray or don’t pray, it doesn’t matter. We are providing a forum for people to reflect together. There is strength in numbers.”

*The AUSA Senate is spearheading a lunch benefit to raise money for the tsunami victims Monday, Jan. 31 in the Driscoll Ballroom from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Individuals planning to attend are asked to make a minimum donation of $10, or students with meal plans can swipe their cards two times. Local restaurants that specialize in cuisine from southern Asia will cater the event and “DU students and student organizations from Indian Ocean rim nations can set up displays about their culture or home,” said Glenn Fee, director of DU’s community action program.

The event will allow participants “to see information on how the tsunami’s impacted the world,” said Max Goldberg, AUSA president.

The Senate, said Goldberg, is trying to “bridge the communication gap between different groups (on campus).” Organizers of the event said that they are reaching out to student groups and individuals on campus who are interested in collaborating with them.

*Amanda Schanfield, Hillel member and event coordinator, said that the organization has been considering the idea to hold a charity ball for years. When the tsunami hit and the world saw the resulting loss and destruction, Hillel had found the perfect occasion. “(Helping the victims of the tsunami) seemed to be the most worthy cause,” she said.

DU Hillel is partnering with chapters from the University of Colorado and Colorado State University to throw a charity ball on March 5 at the Raddison Hotel at Stapleton. Tickets for the ball will be $10 and all profits will be donated to tsunami victims through the Jewish Federation.

The group is hoping to raise $1,800 said Schanfield, because the number 18 is equated with the Hebrew letter meaning “life.”

Schanfield said that Hillel is not just a Jewish organization, everyone is welcome and invited to join. For tickets and information, contact Amanda Schanfield at aschanfi@du.edu.

*Members of DU’s Indian Student Network were specifically impacted by the December tsunami that devastated the costal regions of India. Most of the students involved in the network, said Rakhi Panjabi, president of ISN, are from India.

Panjabi said that the predominantly graduate student organization discussed options for relief efforts and decided that “it would be much easier to concentrate on just one area so that we could put all of our efforts into it.”

That is why the group is donating all proceeds from their donation boxes to Indians for Collective Action, a charity organization with ties in India. Collection boxes have been placed throughout campus in Driscoll, Penrose Library, the International House and other areas. Cash and checks are accepted and appreciated, said Panjabi. Checks can be made out to Indians for Collective Action, with a specified note on the “memo line” to Bhoomika Trust-a/c Tamil Nadu Earthquake-Tsunami Fund. Online donations are also accepted on www.icaonline.org.

*Graduate organization, Graduates Involved in Volunteer Efforts (GIVE) has set up endowment boxes as well.

Contributions will be donated to Red Cross, HOPE and Find Nicole.

Project Find Nicole is an organization dedicated to Daniels graduate student Nicole Weissberg, whose whereabouts remain unknown after she was traveling in Thailand when the tsunami hit.