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Multicultural talent onstage
UNICEF Club raising funds for TAP Project

by Jamie Altman

Amador Valley United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Club is hosting its first ever multicultural talent show Friday, March 8. The fundraiser, called "Hand in Hand," will be held from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in the Pleasanton Middle School multipurpose room. Tickets are $10 at the door.

"The money raised from 'Hand in Hand' will benefit the (UNICEF) TAP Project, which raises funds for clean drinking water for children all around the world," said club publicist Namratha Soma, a senior. "We hope to not only raise money for this during the fundraiser but also to spread awareness about UNICEF's goals to the Pleasanton community."

Four thousand children die daily due to unsanitary drinking conditions, according to Soma, and the TAP Project has been collecting donations from restaurants in order to reduce this number. However, this particular fundraiser has never been successful for the Amador UNICEF Club, so its leaders decided to create a new event to benefit the cause.

The evening will include performances by the Children's Choir, the PMS Bhangra and Latino Clubs, and the Amador Bollywood Club. Even professional organizations such as the Chinyakare Ensemble, which is a Zimbabwean dance group, and Melissa Cruz Flamenco have offered to perform for free.

"Working with these groups has been such an honor," Soma said.

She emphasized the value of the Children's Choir.

"The children all attend Pleasanton elementary schools and participated in this event completely voluntarily. They've been attending weekly rehearsals ever since January and are so excited to perform and spread the UNICEF message."

Soma anticipates a successful evening, which will contribute to UNICEF's worldwide goal of eliminating preventable children's deaths.

"Thanks to the efforts of UNICEF, the numbers are reducing," Soma said. "It is Amador UNICEF's goal, with the community's help, to bring this number down to zero."