The Haiti Solidarity Club held a silent auction in downtown Los Altos yesterday, January 27, to raise money for SOPUDEP, the sister school in Haiti. The event, organized by parents of students who have gone or will be traveling to Haiti during the February break, featured merchandise donated from businesses in the Los Altos community. The club hoped to raise $20,000 through the auction.

“We are still calculating the final results, but we think we met our goal,” Club Coordinator Seth Donnelly said.

The silent auction included a variety of things, from a tour of Facebook to SAT tutoring, local handmade jewelry, and sports memorabilia.

“[The auction] was an adult event, very different from the car washes and open mic nights,” chaperone parent Debra Strichartz said. “The Los Altos community was invited and the mayor, as well as the School Board, were there. [Superintendent Dr.] Barry Groves said a few words as well as [senior] Amanda [Spielman], [senior] Kendall [Simon] and myself.”

This fundraising event also acted as an educational opportunity. Students who had already gone to Haiti gave a PowerPoint presentation and spoke of their experience there. A man from the Haitian community also spoke at the auction.

“Pierre La Bosier from the Haiti Action Committee shared his experiences growing up in Haiti and his efforts towards democracy there,” Strichartz said.