Friday’s “Harmonies for Haiti,” an a cappella concert featuring the BosTones and the Dear Abbeys, filled BU Central to the brim with students who came to support earthquake relief with an evening of music.
The concert, hosted by the BosTones, helped raise money for Partners in Health. The group chose the organization because it is to be faster than any other aid organization and 100 percent of the donations go to the Haitians, said College of Arts and Sciences sophomore and BosTones member Aaron Coleman.
Partners in Health is also one of few non-profit organizations that has been working in Haiti for over 20 years. They are dedicated to long-term improvements in Haitian medical health care and will not leave Haiti any time soon, according to their website.
“The BosTones and Dear Abbeys have chosen to volunteer their time for Partners in Health, which is a good charity,” said School of Education Dean Hardin Coleman. “They are using their talents to help other people and we are proud that they are doing that.”
Attendees donated by buying raffle tickets for BosTones and Dear Abbeys t-shirts and CDs.
“We’ve had today reserved for a concert since the beginning of the semester,” Coleman said. “But when Haiti happened, we decided as a group that we wanted the concert to benefit Haiti.”
Brianna Healey, a College of Communication sophomore who follows the BosTones regularly, said she was surprised by the large number of students who came out to listen to the music and donate for the cause.
“I expected about 50 people,” she said. “I didn’t think it would be impossible to find a seat.”
CAS freshman and audio engineer for BU Central events Thomas Howe said he was also shocked by how many people came to the concert.
“This is more people than I have seen at any BU Central event I’ve worked,” he said.
Even before the doors opened, piles of BU students had showed up to donate to Haitians affected by the earthquake.
“Anything that can be done for Haiti, I want to participate in,” said one of the early arrivals, COM freshman Noah Eberhart. “They already had a lot problems [before this disaster], and this makes it a lot more difficult for them.”
Eberhart arrived early enough to be able to hear the BosTones warm up with his group of friends.
“I thought the concert was excellent,” he said. “It was definitely a productive fundraiser, people love music and people want to show support for Haiti &- this combines two things people want to participate in. It’s a great idea.”
The BosTones are one of many other BU groups who have been adding to a collective BU donation fund for Haiti, which is being matched by an anonymous donor up to $25,000. BU is still accepting donations at www.bu.edu/HaitiHelp.
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