Paint night at UNE raises funds for Dominican victims of tropical storm Erika

On October 2, 2015, UNE held a paint night fundraiser in the Campus Center to raise money to aid the Dominica Red Cross in its support of citizens affected by tropical storm Erika. The storm, which hit on August 27, dumped 12 inches of rain on Dominica, causing numerous landslides, killing more than 30 people, destroying the village of Petite Savanne and Jungle Bay Ecolodge, and leaving 800 people homeless and hundreds of millions of dollars of damage.

According to Tom Klak, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Environmental Studies, who organized the event, an impressive crowd of 57 students, staff, faculty and family members turned out for the fundraiser. In total, the effort raised $1,144.

Sarah Gorham, M.F.A., associate lecturer and instructor in the Department of Creative and Fine Arts, guided participants in the creation of paintings on 16 by 20 inch canvasses, which they were able to take home with them as keepsakes. Also on hand at the event were Environmental Studies students who will visit Dominica in January for two weeks as part of Klak’s study abroad class.

Klak said of the fundraiser, “It was a great illustration of how to have fun and support a good cause, and that's a theme that will carry over during our 14 days in Dominica! In fact that seems like a nice recipe for a life well lived: have fun and do good work.”