Second Annual Cinco De Mayo Extravaganza
Project RightChoice’s Second Annual Cinco de Mayo Extravaganza on May 7, 2011 was a huge success. We were able to raise over $20,000 to provide clean water and sanitation facilities for communities in need in Haiti and Ethiopia. Additionally, we helped educate the Dartmouth community about the pressing clean water issues faced by communities around the globe.
Leading up to the event, Project RightChoice members sold over 950 raffle tickets, exceeding last year’s total for ticket sales. Members also prepared terrific educational materials for the event and collected raffle prizes, which were generously donated from local businesses and other Project RightChoice supports. Their hard work and dedication truly paid off. We were able to give away 60 prizes, including two sets of Red Sox tickets, an iPod, several overnight stays, dozens of gift certificates to local businesses, and a grand prize of $2,500 cash!
This event would not have been possible without the gracious support of our sponsors. Gusanoz Mexican Restaurant was our primary event sponsor for the second year running.
The Dartmouth Class of 1969 and the Project for Social Good each were Education sponsors. Other sponsors included generous local businesses, Greek houses, athletic teams, and other on-campus organizations (see below for complete list of sponsors and raffle prize donors).
The event was a terrific success. The room was filled to capacity, with over 190 students in attendance. The event kicked off with exciting door prizes and a meal catered by Gusanoz, and the band – Viva Quetzal (who graciously returned for a second year!) – filled the room with Latin music. After dinner, Meghan Everett ’12 (Education/Outreach Chair) and Jen Weissbach ’14 (Treasurer) introduced William Kwamkamba ’14 who spoke about his life in Malawi and his own struggle with providing clean water for his village. After a second round of prizes, students took to the floor for a salsa dancing competition while Viva Quetzal played a lively second set. The event concluded with the announcement of the $2,500 grand-prize winner! Everyone left the event not only with great memories but also with a far better understanding of the challenges of clean water access in many communities around the globe.
Overall, this event was an incredible success. On one hand, we were able to make a significant impact by raising $20,000 to bring clean water and sanitation facilities to communities and Haiti and Ethiopia through the terrific work of Water.org. Equally important, however, were our efforts to educate the Dartmouth community about the dire need for clean water access. We are very proud of this achievement and would like to thank our members and our generous donors for making it all possible.
Keep an eye out for more information about our November Benefit Auction and Dinner in Boston, MA! If you have any questions or would like more information, please send us an email at info@projectrightchoice.org! Also, check out the pictures from the event at the bottom of this page!
Past Events:
As we like to say at Project RightChoice, “Raindrops Fill Lakes.” The Cinco de Mayo Extravaganza is a testament to power of a united and concerted effort. The event would not have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors:
Primary Sponsor:
Gusanoz Mexican Restaurant
Education Sponsors:
Dartmouth Class of 1969 Project for Social Good
Event Sponsors:
The Van Gemeren Family Wheelock Books / Dottie Zicklin Family Anonymous Scott Sipple ’84
Table Sponsors:
Alpha Delta (2) Beta Alpha Omega (2) Sigma Alpha Epsilon (2) Alpha Xi Alpha / Tri Kap
Gamma Delta Chi Epsilon Kappa Theta Kappa Delta Psi Upsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon Inter-Fraternity Council Greek Leadership Council Gertrude “Gertie” Fitzgerald
2012 Class Council 2013 Class Council 2014 Class Council Robin and Craig Harrison
Dartmouth Football Dartmouth Softball True Value Hardwear King Arthur Flour
Dartmouth Undergraduate Veteran’s Association
Raffle Sponsors:
Gary Emos Murphy’s on the Green Applebee’s C. Beston & Company
Mark Roll The Dartmouth Bookstore College Supplies We’re Makin’ Waves
Amidon Jewelers Hanover Outdoors Boloco Yama
Hanover Country Club Golf and Ski Warehouse C & A Pizza Bean’s Art Store
Six South Street Hote Main Street Kitchens Everything But Anchovies The Norwich Inn
Gilberte Interiors Shepard’s Pie Restaurant Jewel of India Ramunto’s
Zimmerman’s North Face JuliAna Blue Sky Restaurants The Hanover Inn
The Parker House Inn Bagel Basement Salt Hill Pub Systems Plus Computers
Canoe Club The Nugget Theater Co-op Food Stores Dirt Cowboy Cafe
Campion’s Women’s Store The Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm Bella Clothing and Shoes The Trumbull House Bed & Breakfast
Second Annual Boston Benefit Auction and Dinner
items, guests visited the education table, which provided photographs as well as informative pamphlets about the alarming water crisis in the world. A jerry can weighing approximately 40 pounds was displayed for attendees to lift, and see for themselves the strength required of women and girls responsible for carrying water for their families in developing countries.
At around 7:30, the guests were seated in the main ballroom where Lauren Jenny ’14, Secretary, delivered the opening remarks. Dinner followed soon after. The three-course meal was accompanied with music played by talented Dartmouth students—violin players Erica Westenberg ’15 and Dan Kim ’13 as well as cello player Hehe Jiang, graduate student.
As the night continued, David Silver ’12, Vice President, was introduced to speak about the goals and ambitions of Project RightChoice as an expanding organization. Soon after, Chris Jenny ‘12, President, delivered a touching speech and presented an award to Sonja Strong in memory of Project RightChoice’s esteemed advisor, John Strong ’56. Meghan Everett ’12, Education/Outreach Chair, followed with a powerful speech about the need for more attention for the pressing issue of clean water access in the developing world. As dessert was served, Craig Fitzgerald ’11, Project RightChoice Co-Founder, was delivered a surprise Moral Compass Award by Wills Begor ’12, fellow Co-Founder, for his incredible dedication to Project RightChoice and its student members.
After the plates were cleared, the bidding later continued with an exciting live auction. This final portion of the evening featured 7 items, including a New Hampshire Weekend Ski Getaway, 2012 Red Sox Tickets, and a weekend BBQ catered by Project RightChoice’s members. Guests were also given the opportunity to sponsor the construction of wells that would provide life-long water supply to communities in Haiti and Ethiopia, donations ranged from $25 to $150.
Project RightChoice’s 2011 Benefit Auction and Dinner was amazingly successful! It represents the organization’s commitment to creating future leaders and making a difference in the world. Moreover, It could not have been possible without the generosity of our supporters and the arduous work of our student leaders. Undoubtedly, the amount raised during this event will be life changing for developing communities in Haiti and Ethiopia. The culmination of the event proves to us, once again, the truth behind our motto—raindrops fill lakes.
On November 12th, Project RightChoice hosted its 2011 Benefit Auction and Dinner in Boston, MA, at the Westin Waterfront Hotel, and 120 alumni and residents of the Boston and New Hampshire areas attended the event to support Dartmouth students in their efforts to provide clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education to developing communities.
Thanks to the tremendous generosity of individuals and local businesses, Project RightChoice raised approximately $65,000 that will assist Water.org in directly providing water relief efforts in Haiti and Ethiopia.
The gala began at 6:30 with a reception and silent auction on the second floor of the elegant Westin Hotel. A total of 35 items were displayed for the silent auction—these ranged from beautiful photographs donated by Dartmouth students, such as Marietta Smith ’12 and Jay Kraska ’12, to jewelry, wine bottles, gift baskets, and sports memorabilia. In addition to viewing auction
This event never would have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors and supporters:
Gold Sponsors:
Christopher and Andrea Jenny Joshua and Anita Bekenstein
Silver Sponsors:
Bill and Alli Achtmeyer Mark and Kristen Begor The Parthenon Group
Bronze Sponsors:
The Floren Family Foundation Robert and Nancy Downey Foundation Kiradjieff & Goode, Inc. Kent and Liz Dauten
Catterton Partners Noel and Andrea O’Neill John C. Rutherford Eisenson Family Fund
SCR & Associates, LLC R. Bradford Evans Stephen and Susan Mandel Jonathan and Patti Kraft
Mark and Karen Vachon Simone Mordas
Table Sponsors:
Ronald Kaufman Melanie Ginter & John Lapides James and Susan Wright Nicholas B. Willard
Eric and Susan Schultz Mary Ann Tocio The Oberg Family Michael Brennan
John and Rebecca Haase Mike and Karen Miles Philip Beekman Susu Bakery Boutique
Valerie Lee & Associates James and Karen Geiling Watermill Management Company Wayne Davis and Ann Merrifield
Stephen and Rosemarie Defalco Barbara and Frank O’Connell Franklin T. Julian Marshal Bartlett and Nicole Bartlett
Advantage Testing of Boston, LLC Philip and Judith Rosenfield Melody and Colin Anderson David A. Bloss
Robert and Lori Fieling Bill and Ellen Meagher Seaver Peters David and Barbara Calhoun
James Lapides
More Pictures from this Year’s Event:
