The Asian Community at Tufts (ACT) raised a record amount at its fourth Annual Charity Service Auction last night.
Despite having fewer services to auction off, the group took in $2,100, beating the average for the past year by over $500, according to senior Bic Leu, one of the event's organizers.
The auction's proceeds will benefit the Asian Shelter and Advocacy Project (ASAP), a program run by the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK).
"ATASK is really the only organization of its kind," Leu said. "Among its many other services, it offers multilingual support, legal and medical services and job training."
According to Leu, about 40 students volunteered for the auction this year, 34 of them by agreeing to complete certain tasks for the highest bidder.
"Aside from student services, we auctioned performances ... [and] dance and guitar lessons, breakfast delivery, laundry services and more," she said.
The students that auctioned off services emphasized the desire to do a good deed as their motivating factor. Senior Julia Goldberg, along with a friend, will bake a dessert for one lucky student. "We thought we'd do it for charity," she said.
Senior Matt Fiorello will be a personal bartender and masseur. He also said that charity "is the most important part" for him.
The auction was Leu's brainchild during her freshman year, and she has organized it for three out of the four years since. President of ACT Chao Pan and ACT member Janice Wong also helped organize the auction this year.
"In the past, proceeds have been donated to the American Heart Association, the UNICEF Tsunami Relief Fund and the Vietnamese Community Affected by Katrina," Leu said. "We try to pick organizations that are relevant to current events and to the Asian American community as a whole."
According to Leu, the auction has raised about $4,000 overall during its three years in existence. She attributes this year's record profits to the atmosphere of the event and the choice of charity.
"This year was different - it was more intimate than usual because a representative from ASAP also attended the auction, so people could have a clear idea of where their money is going."
