On October 30th, alumni in Macedonia organized a Halloween-inspired fundraising event called “Smiles Beneath the Masks”.  The event, held in Skopje, was conceived by alumna Tamara Kotevska ’11 after she learned from local coffee bar owners about a boy named Luka Veljkovic who suffers from Autism and requires expensive medical treatment.  “We decided to make a party in order to celebrate the American holiday Halloween and, at the same time, use the entry fees to raise the money needed,” explained Macedonia’s alumni coordinator, Hristina Trifunovska.  The coffee bar owners who had first suggested the cause to Kotevska agreed to host the event for free, and several bands volunteered to play.

Alumni advertised the party extensively, creating Facebook events, hanging posters around the city and in their schools, getting an online newspaper to announce the event, and even doing interviews on local TV stations.  Their efforts attracted 120 guests, including Macedonian basketball player Ivica Dimcheski, pictured at right, who presented Luka with a t-shirt.  In all, they raised 12,000 MKD or $270, which will be donated to Luka’s family for his treatment.  Trifunovska offered thanks on behalf of the alumni association “to all that participated and helped in the realization of this project!”