SOS Club Fundraising Piano Concert

They invited Nivaldo Tavares, an international award-winning pianist. After a short movie produced by our students and a presentation from the head of the Rocinha Community Center, Mr. Tavares brought the audience to its feet with a flawlessly executed selection of classical and contemporary music.  Natalia Sang, Marcia Aleixo Ramos, Victoria Pereira, and the SOS Club organized the event.  Thanks are also due to Mr. and Mrs. Aleixo Ramos who made Mr. Tavares’ performance possible; Meghan McDonough, SOS Advisor; Annette Dam, Activities Director; our maintenance staff and families who sent the delicious intermission snacks.  It was a wonderful and unusual event that brought together our community and raised funds for a library project in neighboring Rocinha.

The SOS fundraising efforts continued on Friday morning when the Club made a presentation about their library project to Dr. Camila Alire, the President of the American Library Association, which is the oldest and largest national association of libraries in the world. In the photo below, Ms. Alire, who is in Rio on an official visit from her office in Washington DC, is congratulating the Club on its initiative and awareness of the needs of neighbors and, has promised a donation.

Ms. Barbara Anderson in conjunction with Ms. Almerita Sousa and Mr. Erik Holm-Olson of the USA Consulate coordinated the visit.  As you can see, this is a major effort and the SOS Club has advised that they will present their project to parents in Extra Edition next week.