Delegates, guests and staff at the AFT convention last month showed their solidarity by raising almost $25,000 for disaster relief. Raffle participants—who won six prizes ranging from electronics to hotel stays—contributed more than $14,500 to the AFT Disaster Relief Fund, which has supplied $500 checks to AFT members affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

Cash contributions on the spot amounted to $3,200. The tiny delegation from the Republic of Georgia in the former Soviet Union, where the average teacher makes only $40 a month, donated a whopping $2,800 through two sources: cash from the proceeds of a book about their U.S. travels, and a silent auction of their handcrafted goods.

Ticket sales from the play "Organizing Abraham Lincoln," written by retired AFT national representative Rich Klimmer and Tony Award winning playwright Lonnie Carter, brought in about $2,400. And $5 from the sale of every convention T-shirt went to the relief fund, netting nearly $1,800.

"Since the hurricanes last fall, AFT members, affiliates, staff and friends have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to our brothers and sisters along the Gulf Coast," says AFT secretary-treasurer Nat LaCour. "The convention was an extension of this generosity, and we're deeply grateful to every individual who has donated time and money to the relief efforts."

August 4, 2006