‘Dollars For Darfur’ Students Named Darfur Heroes By National Coalition

Student-organized challenge raises awareness, funds to help end Darfur genocide

WASHINGTON - The Save Darfur Coalition today honored participants in the Dollars for Darfur National School Challenge (http://www.savedarfur.org/dollarsfordarfur) for their creative awareness and fundraising techniques that have, to date, raised approximately $420,000 to help end the Darfur genocide. Half of the money raised by the students was donated to the Save Darfur Coalition to maintain aggressive advocacy efforts, and the other half was given to humanitarian aid organizations working in the region. For their efforts, the Save Darfur Coalition named the students the June Darfur Heroes.

The Heroes program, started last year by the coalition, highlights individuals and groups who play a crucial role in helping end the violence in Darfur through awareness-raising and other efforts.

"Dollars for Darfur has proved to the world that our generation has a profound desire to make a difference," wrote Nick Anderson and Ana Slavin - co-creators of Dollars for Darfur - in a blog entry on Save Darfur's website. "We will inherit a world full of problems, and we have shown that we are ready for the challenge."

Anderson and Slavin's blog on Dollars for Darfur can be found here: http://www.savedarfur.org/section/heroes_archive/junes_darfur_heroes/.

"Students have consistently been on the frontline of the battle to raise awareness and bring an end to the ongoing atrocities in Darfur," said Save Darfur Coalition president Jerry Fowler. "The Save Darfur Coalition is constantly amazed by the generosity, creativity and compassion expressed by students - like those that participated in Dollars for Darfur - for their peers around the world."

Representatives from the top 10 Dollars for Darfur schools earned a trip last week to lobby Washington lawmakers. While in Washington, students also presented donations to Oxfam America and the International Rescue Committee to help continue their humanitarian work in Darfur. Additionally, students participated in a demonstration outside the White House where they urged the United States to use its June presidency of the U.N. Security Council to ensure that the UNAMID civilian protection force is rapidly deployed and fully equipped. Co-creators Anderson and Slavin last year testified before House Subcommittee on National Security and International Affairs during the weekend of lobbying.

Darfur Heroes will feature one outstanding activist's story each month - through a blog featured on Save Darfur's website - not just to recognize those individuals who have helped build the movement, but also to inspire others with unique fundraising and awareness-raising tactics. Previous Darfur Heroes have included "Big Kenny" Alphin of the country music duo Big & Rich, Lindsey Ronald - creator of Run for Darfur (http://www.RunForDarfur.org), and Miriam and Jacob Hodesh - who deleted their wedding registry and instead asked friends and family to make donations to help end the genocide in Darfur, among others.

Anderson and Slavin's blog on Dollars for Darfur can be found here: http://www.savedarfur.org/section/heroes_archive/junes_darfur_heroes/.