Tufts Friends of Israel held fundraisers around campus this week to raise money for the Save A Child's Heart (SACH) campaign, working in conjunction with Zeta Psi fraternity, Tufts Hillel and the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS).
The goal of the fundraisers was to raise money to improve medical care for children with heart disease in developing countries. This year, the organizations worked together to host four events for SACH: a bake sale, a Valentine's Day condom−rose delivery, a raffle and a party tomorrow night at Zeta Psi that will raise money through $2 "automatic entry" tickets and donations at the door.
"We thought last year was positive and we could only improve on it," Friends of Israel co−President Erica Feldman, a sophomore, said. "It was one of the best events Friends of Israel has ever put on."
Aliza Shapiro, Friends of Israel's cultural chair, explained that one of the keys to last year's successful campaign was that the goals of SACH have universal appeal.
"It's a cause that people can relate to and care about," Shapiro, a freshman, said. "Free heart surgery is something no one can really argue against."
Another aspect of the fundraiser's success last year stemmed from Tufts' prioritization of active citizenship, according to Friends of Israel co−President Shira Shamir.
"When you explain [SACH] to the people who are passing by, they immediately come over," Shamir, a sophomore, said. "Tufts is the perfect campus for a campaign like this because we have a large community of people who aspire to make a difference and aspire to make a contribution. That is exactly what this organization does."
Last year, Friends of Israel raised $1,400 for SACH, and they hope to raise at least $1,500 this year, according to Feldman.
The joint efforts of the other organizations has made a big difference, she said.
"Last year it was just Friends of Israel doing this, but this year Zeta Psi and LCS are involved and have been really great to us," Feldman said. "LCS helped us set up the raffle, they gave us a prompt to call the businesses and places that usually donate, and they helped us make the posters."
Zeta Psi decided to become more involved with the SACH effort this year because of last year's success, Zeta Psi Social Chair Matthew Freedman said. "Last year, our party benefited the SACH campaign, and this year we thought we should definitely do it again but put in even more of an effort," Freedman, a sophomore, said.
