Schools
SMCHS Raises $12K in 60 Seconds for Japan Relief
It only takes a minute for students, faculty and staff to raise $12,535 for Japanese earthquake relief.
Images of earthquake- and tsunami-ravaged Japan moved across television monitors at Santa Margarita Catholic High last week, leading to a countdown to raise money for victims in desperate need of assistance.
And then, in just 60 seconds, students, faculty and staff pooled their money and raised $12,535 to support relief efforts for northeastern Japan.
The school’s campus ministry department, along with students involved in the school’s peer ministry program, organized the March 23 one-minute fundraiser for seventh period.
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The tragic images played across the school's Eagle television to remind students of the desperate need for assistance in the country in which thousands were killed and hundreds of thousands were displaced.
Students then raced to collect as much money as possible as a clock counted down the seconds on the Eagle news program.
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Santa Margarita students had seen the success of the one-minute drive at El Toro High School and wanted to top it, raising as much money as possible to assist disaster victims. El Toro raised nearly $4,000 about a week earlier.
“I was in awe at what could be accomplished in just one minute,” said Mackenzie Beck, who helped organize the drive. “The Santa Margarita community has such a giving heart. The recent disaster is a wake-up call of how fragile this world really is.”
All donations collected were given to Catholic Relief Services. The nonprofit is working with Caritas International and others to find pathways to bring aid to the thousands of people stricken by the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northern Japan. Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries.
School Principal Ray Dunne said he was proud of the generosity of the Santa Margarita community, especially during Lent, when Christians are reminded of the importance of giving to others.
“This is a perfect of example of living our school motto, "Caritas Christi"—the love of Christ,” he said. “I am extremely proud of our school community.”
