As February draws to an end, the De Anza College Circle K club is gearing up for Soundz That Prevent Cancer, a fundraising event for pediatric cancer.
STP Cancer will take place Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. in Ohlone College’s Jackson Theater in conjunction with Ohlone’s Circle K club. Featured artists will include Bay Area talents such as Jennii Lee, Mighty Joe, Booftroop, Jack Tu, Spinatik’s DJ and possible hip-hop group ELEMNOP.
The event will allow college students a chance to participate in community service by paying a $10 admission to see the show. All donations and profits go to the Candlelighters foundation. Additional donations will also be welcomed.
"Our aim is to raise money for the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation," said Matt Schroeder, event organizer and Circle K treasurer.
The Candlelighters Foundation, with more than 100,000 members, is "committed to providing support, education and advocacy for children and adolescents with cancer, survivors of childhood/adolescent cancer, their families and the professionals who care for them."
The foundation has more than 100,000 members across the country.
The California-Nevada-Hawaii Division of Circle K International fundraises for two main charities, the Candlelighters Foundation and Pediatric Trauma Prevention.
"We wanted to do something a little different when it came to raising money for the Candlelighters Foundation. I proposed the idea to the rest of De Anza’s Circle K board and they loved it," Schroeder said. Circle K is a collegiate community service and leadership development organization. Each Circle K is self-governed, but sponsored by a Kiwanis club, the parent organization. The club meets every Tuesday in the Hinson Campus Center, Student Council Chambers at 1:30 p.m.
"We work closely with our school and local community through service projects," said Schroeder.
De Anza’s Circle K sister schools include University of California Berkeley, San Francisco State University, UC Irvine, UC Davis, San Diego State University, Ohlone College and San Jose State University. These schools will interact and host volunteer opportunities together as a chance for helping the community, networking and friendships.
"Circle K is a really great way to meet friends and to also get the chance to do something that will make you feel good about yourself. As a club we are all very close and offer help to one another not only during events but also outside of events."
Circle K’s next project will be the Special Olympics. The event will be held on the De Anza campus.
"Our Kiwanis Club puts on this annual event where children with special needs local to the San Jose area will get a chance to participate in their own Special Olympics," said Schroeder.
Circle K also participate social events with other clubs on campus such as the Vietnamese Student Association and Rotaract, another community service club.
For more information, visit http://www.myspace.com/STP_Cancer and www.candlelighters.org.
