The Red and Black

Brad Pitt is one of many celebrities working as a spokesman for the ONE Campaign, an organization fighting global AIDS and poverty. Other representatives include Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz. A charity dance party called The Kickoff will [Click to enlarge]

If there weren’t already enough excuses to party the first week of school, try saving the world as one.

Karma Entertainment, founded by University students Jay Trambadia and Nikul Parikh, will host The Kickoff, a charity dance party at The Ritz Friday at 10 p.m.

This event will support the United Sikhs organization, a tsunami relief effort, and the largely popular ONE Campaign, an AIDS public awareness group.

A $5 cover charge along with donations will help the United Sikhs organization continue running various programs they have set up for tsunami victims in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India.

These programs include distributing food and providing medical attention and children’s programs to the victims and their families. In addition, the organization has psychologists on hand to help victims deal with the crisis.

Thanks to spokesmen like Brad Pitt and the international phenomena Live 8, the ONE Campaign pledges to help the poorest people of the world by erasing AIDS and poverty.

“Just a couple of your dollars can help a child have food and go to school for a year,” said Parikh, a junior from Moultrie. “That’s just amazing, why not make this difference?”

Elesh Jogi, a junior, who will deejay at the party, moved to Athens two years ago from Harare, Zimbabwe.

“For some people, poverty and hardship are considered just another issue in the world, but for others, they live the reality of it everyday,” he said. “I come from a place where many people live this reality and realize what a difference an event like this can make.”

He said he recognizes the concept of the ONE Campaign bringing people together and hopes his music will do the same at this event.

“I hope that other college students around the country start throwing fundraisers for causes such as these,” Trambadia said.

The party is open to people ages 18 and up.

“Karma, what goes around, comes around. So make sure you’re at the party,” Parikh said.

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