Dine out, for Africa!
[Postscript: Hooray! We raised over $600 with our vegan lasagna dinner to contribiute to Billy's efforts!]
Sunday, May 25th, 2008. Instead of our regular potluck this month, the series is hosting an informal pasta dinner in the back hall, in support of a Day for Africa, and the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF). Reservations required!
Upon hearing former United Nations Envoy for Aids in Africa, Stephen Lewis, speak in Nanaimo last year youth activist Billy Strachan was moved to support the good work the SLF does to ease the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa at the grassroots level. It provides care to women who are ill and struggling to survive; assists orphans and other AIDS affected children; supports heroic grandmothers who almost single-handedly care for their orphan grandchildren; and supports associations of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Billy came up with the idea to involve local businesses and volunteers in a fundraising initiative he calls, A Day for Africa, on the first Saturday of each month from March through June. He has accepted Denman’s invitation to tell us about his endeavour at our own local fundraising dinner, the proceeds of which will be added to the check he can now looking forward to presenting Stephen Lewis himself in person, on June 27th in Courtenay. Billy didn’t know at the time he started his Comox Valley-wide, A Day in Africa project, that Lewis would end up being anywhere near our area of the world at this time. Neither did he know that his youthful idealism would inspire so many folks to rise to the occasion and support his own vision to collectively make a difference! You can also read about Billy in this month’s In Focus Magazine in the article by Laura Busheiken.
Tickets to the June Stephen Lewis event in Courtenay are now available at Abraxas Books on Denman ($30 adult or $15 student/youth.)
Denman’s Dineout for Africa gets underway at 6:00 pm in the BackHall, and will include a presentation by Billy Strachan about his project. Please make your dinner reservation asap by calling 335-1209. ($15 adult, $8 youth)
