September 6, 2008 – Friends of Fiji Gala Fundraiser!
Fijian Breeze Band, Fiji Vacation Raffle & Familiar Food and Drink
Development projects in Fiji involving current Peace Corps Volunteers will once again be the beneficiaries of the biennial Friends of Fiji Gala Fundraiser held on Saturday, September 6, at the very attractive and conveniently located headquarters of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) in Arlington, Virginia.
The evening included entertainment by (and dancing to the music of) the wildly popular West Coast Fijian Breeze Band (flying in especially for the event), a traditional Fijian/Indian feast, and a raffle whose grand prize includes round-trip tickets to Fiji from Los Angeles, plus resort accommodations. Various types of delectable alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were available, as well a silent auction of all sorts of Fiji artwork, crafts, etc.
This marked the first year that the fundraiser is being held outside of Washington, DC, but not very far. NRECA is ideally located at 4301 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington, VA, two blocks from the Ballston Metrorail Station and right off the Glebe Road exit of Interstate-66. The facilities offer free parking in the basement garage (enter from N. Taylor Street) and a very spacious, attractive and well-equipped venue. In addition, NRECA is offering us a substantial discount which will increase the percentage of proceeds available for development projects.
Highlights & pictures at http://fofiji.org/wordpress/?p=62
2006 Fundraiser
The Friends of Fiji Gala Fundraiser was held Saturday, September 30, 2006 in the Great Hall at Fannie Mae 3900 Wisconsin Ave., N.W. Washington, DC. Over 150 were in attendance. Live Fiji music and authentic Fiji food highlighted the evening. The raffle for a Fiji holiday, including round-trip airfare from Los Angeles was won by Robert Reid. Proceeds will be used for development projects in Fiji. The evening’s program can be seen at www.fofiji.org/2006Program.doc.
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Fundraiser pictures can be seen at http://www.fofiji.org/Fundraiser2006/album/slides/DSC_0007.html?show_param=2.
The band is releasing its first CD shortly … stay tuned for details.Thanks to all of the board members, Viti DC, & other friends of Fiji who volunteered countless hours to pull it off.
Thanks also to the following businesses for their generous contributions to the fundraiser. They have earned our prestigious Three Star Sevusevu Vinaka (thank you for the gift) Rating:
Air Pacific, the official airlines of Friends of Fiji http://www.airpacific.com
Sonaisali Island Resort http://www.sonaisali.com
Akata’s Grass Shack Boutique, supplier of premium kava http://www.akatasgrassshack.com
Fiji Water, supplier of our favorite beverage (when we’re out of kava) http://www.fijiwater.com
2004 Friends of Fiji Fundraiser
The bi-annual fundraiser in support of Peace Corps Partnership Projects in Fiji was held Saturday October 23 at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, DC. Approximately 200 Friends of Fiji & guests attended. The evening included a lovo feast, dancing to music by Fijian musicians from California, a silent auction, and grand prize raffle. Over $9,000 was raised for Peace Corps Partnership. See some pictures at http://www.fofiji.org/fundraiser2004.htmVinaka Vaku Levu and Bahut Dhanyevad from the Friends of Fiji to our Raffle Donors:
Air Pacific – The Official Airline of Friends of Fiji
2002 Fundraiser
The 2002 Fundraiser (pictures) was held Saturday evening, September 28, 2002 at Church of the Epiphany in Washington, DC. Ninety-five friends were in attendance. The evening featured a Fijian & Indian Buffet, cash bar, live entertainment, raffle and silent auction. The raffle prize was two round trip air tickets from Los Angeles to Nadi, Fiji (courtesy of Air Pacific), and 7 nights at the Mana Island Resort (courtesy of Mana Island Resort). Thanks to the Fiji Visitors Bureau for arranging the vacation package and bringing the Serenaders, who presented a program of traditional Fijian music and dance. Funds raised paid for shipping a container of bicycles and repair parts to Fiji by Pedals for Progress http://www.p4p.org
See the article that appeared in In Gear, the newsletter of Pedals for Progress.
With funds raised in 1999, FoF covered the materials costs for the first two Habitat for Humanity houses of the new millennium, completed just after midnight just west of the international dateline in Fiji on January 1, 2000!