MANILA, Dec. 1, 2011 – More than 100 people joined in the spirit of Thanksgiving to raise $3,500 to help students from Cambodia and Burma to study journalism and business at top Asian universities through scholarships offered by the Kearny Alliance (http://www.kearnyalliance.org), a US-based non-profit organization.

The Inaugural Turkey Week Fundraiser was held at 3 Sheets Saloon in Manhattan on Nov. 22, 2011. The event included a comedy show featuring MC Noah Savage and several rising NYC comedians, a live set by DJ Yizzy, and sponsorship by Chicago-based men’s personalized fashion service, Trunk Club (www.trunkclub.com).

Kearny Alliance program director, Alexander Boome, said: “We applaud the efforts of this group of young people to raise much-needed money to help educate bright motivated students from Asia’s poorest countries. The Kearny Alliance will match funds raised, bringing the total to $7,000.”

Guests also purchased handbags, iPad and iPhone cases, jewelry made from recycled materials, and Christmas decorations. Deaf and disabled producers in Cambodia made all items by hand as part of a Kearny Alliance social enterprise initiative that creates jobs through increased export sales (Export Service Centre Cambodia http://www.exportservicecentre.com/cambodia/esc_cambodia_products.aspx).

Making the world a better place
“The fundraiser was a huge success, thanks to the generosity of all involved,” said Ken Ewell, a Kearny Alliance Princeton-in-Asia fellow. “Together, we are on our way to literally changing the world of an individual who will receive a Kearny Alliance scholarship and make a contribution to their society through international trade and understanding.

“This will ultimately increase the level of human capital in developing Southeast Asian countries, increase cultural ties among nations, and as a result, advance Kearny Alliance’s mission of Aid through Trade.”

Also supporting the event were Kearny Alliance Junior Advisory Board members Kevin Connors, Grant Wentworth, Scott Britton, Katie Peterson, Peter Lafer, Ryan Kirlin, Alyxandra Cullen, Lizzie Craft, Clayton Sachs, Morgan Jacobs and Jessica Sheehan, together with Constance Wilhelm.

Support poor disadvantaged producers and donate to education
Handmade Christmas decorations made by disadvantaged Cambodian producers are available at goo.gl/su8b1

Further scholarship donations can be made to the Kearny Alliance at
https://www.wepay.com/donate/60064

About The Kearny Alliance
The Kearny Alliance (http://www.kearnyalliance.org), a US nonprofit 501 (c) (3) foundation, partners with other international organizations to further its mission of ‘Aid through Trade’, to advance international development and poverty alleviation through trade-related business, education, training and applied research.

Key programmatic areas include:

• Livelihood development at the grassroots level: Through the social enterprise Export Service Centre (http://www.exportservicecentre.com/cambodia) in Cambodia, the Kearny Alliance assists small producers who are least able to export direct to participate in the global economy.
• Job creation for small & medium producers: Through the Developing Country Export Assistance Program (http://kearnyalliance.org/sourcingreports), the Kearny Alliance connects smaller exporters in developing Asia with buyers worldwide. Surveys of beneficiaries show that suppliers have received more than $800,000 in export orders, and they expect more than $6,000,000 to develop in the next 12 months.
• Education & skills development: The Kearny Alliance offers stipend support for students from Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, the USA and mainland China to study in Asia and the US. The dozens of Kearny Alliance Scholars receive internships and on-the-job training in export-related companies and organizations in 10 countries.
• Trade policy research: One major initiative is The Future of US China Trade .Com (http://www.futureofuschinatrade.com), an online center for data, analysis, and insightful discussion on U.S. - China trade offering Forum Discussions, News & Analysis, Facts & Figures, Discussion Outcomes, Book reviews and Meet the Experts. This was developed from The Kearny Alliance – Arizona State University forums on China, trade and the world economic order high-level series of interlinked meetings – held in Phoenix and Beijing which explored potential solutions to issues and challenges of mutual benefit to China-US trade relations.