News

One Night for Kanke Benefit Concert

Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 7:00pm

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
815 S. Washington, Naperville, IL

Please join us for an event of extraordinary music and an opportunity to provide aid to those in need. Enjoy a swinging evening of jazz during the One Night for Kanke Benefit Concert on October 1 in Naperville, IL. Featuring the musical stylings of renowned jazz band Churchjazz and Grammy®-award winning harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy, proceeds from this event will help send bednets to Kanke, Nigeria, an area ravaged by malaria and lymphatic filariasis. Raffle, silent auction and refreshments will make this an evening to remember. Tickets are on sale now for $50. To order tickets, or for more information, please contact us. View photos of the band in our Gallery

Ticket holders will be able to enjoy a reception immediately after the concert which will include a silent auction and raffle.

Florida Gulf Coast University summer classes, Foundations of Civic Engagement and Colloquium, raise over $10,000 for the Kanke Net Project

August 21, 2009

The Malaria Project was a civic engagement, service learning initiative conducted by two classes at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida during the summer of 2009. Students in Foundations of Civic Engagement IDS 3300 taught by instructor Courtney Satkoski and The University Colloquium IDS 3920 taught by instructor Neil Wilkinson worked jointly to raise public awareness of the ongoing plight of individuals living in sub-Saharan Africa from mosquito vectored malaria. These two classes worked together to not only raise awareness but to raise over $10,000 to purchase 4,000 nets (including Clarke’s matching donation) to be delivered to the village of Kanke, Nigeria.

These classes worked with various agencies and organizations to accomplish this effort. Students from both classes completed a minimum of ten hours each of service learning for this project, with most students earning triple that amount. FGCU’s Center for Sustainability and Environmental Education provided a $1,000 stipend to purchase t-shirts and other items for the classes to wear at promotional events to raise awareness and to sell.

With their own specially created t-shirts and koozies, the students raised money by selling these items, as well as through hosting car washes, church events, bake sales, a 5K, and restaurant events. They sought donations and spoke with groups and provided other support in exchange for collaboration.

These students have worked tirelessly to insure that no one has to decide who sleeps unprotected.