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The performance begins at 7:30pm, and is a fundraiser to continue the charitable work begun in Uganda by Keillor’s cousin and former Menomonie resident Alec Johnson.
Alec died in 2014 from an accidental drowning, but his family and friends are carrying on his work, which focused on breaking the poverty cycle for the people of Uganda, through the 501c3 nonprofit, Transforming Individual Lives Today, Inc. (TILT) “During his life, Alec was committed to building community wherever he lived, and to providing support to the lonely and impoverished, especially orphaned and needy children,” said his father and Menomonie physician Dr. Dan Johnson. “We’re honored to be able to continue in Uganda.”
Uganda is one of the world’s poorest countries with much of the population still living below the international poverty line of $1.90 a day.
Alec worked with Uganda-based charity, St. Augustine Community Love Program, founded by a local Ugandan, Anywarach Joshua Carter, now a member of the Uganda parliament. He set up scholarships for children. He devised a micro-banking program, providing hundreds of local women with seed money to start or expand cottage industries. He began working with an African organization, Farming God’s Way, which teaches farmers techniques that enrich the soil, protect crops and increase yields.
Money raised for the “An Evening for Africa” fundraiser on Sept. 23 will go towards:
-Educating students. $70,000 is being raised to provide education for students in the Nebbi District of northwestern Uganda.
-Micro-banking. $10,000. Through this program, devised by Alec in 2012, women can purchase for 30 cents a membership in a group of women who pool their money to start or invest in small cottage businesses. Directed by the St. Augustine Community, the program is thriving with 2,100 women. With additional seed money, many more groups could be formed.
-Sustainable agriculture. $20,000. This includes expanding training in techniques that enrich the soil and crops, and adding new wells.