Palo Alto High School’s Invisible Children Club will host a car wash to raise money to support education costs for children in Uganda from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot in front of the School’s Tower Building.

“Our goal is to raise enough money through small fundraisers and private donations so that we can organize a large end-of-the-year fundraiser,” senior club President Kavitha Subramanian said. “It will most likely be a small community-based carnival with activities geared towards children and their families. One hundred percent of the money raised from the carnival will be sent to Invisible Children’s Schools for Schools program to help build the schools and dormitories and fund the students’ learning.”

The Schools for Schools organization is an international effort to provide children in Uganda with better educational opportunities. The organization raises money to provide clean water, new schools, staff wages and training, and resources. As of now, Invisible Children is focusing on rebuilding 10 schools that were lost during the Ugandan civil war. According to the Invisible Children Web site its mission is to “work from the ground up, creating projects that would encourage community involvement and offer long-term change in the region’s education.”

The car wash will be the first of many fundraisers for the club this year, and was organized by the four club officers. The leading club members are Subramanian, senior Vice President Alex Coblin, junior Secretary Veena Subramanian, and sophomore Public Relations Officer Austin Shiau. Since this is the club’s first year at Paly, the members are keen on making their first fundraiser a success.

“The officers each have a part in bringing together this event, from logistics to making posters and getting volunteers,” Subramanian said. “All of the members also pitch and plan their ideas, ask for volunteers and donations, and help get materials ready.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at the carwash this weekend or receiving more information about the Invisible Children Club can email Subramanian at [email protected].

Since this is the club’s first fundraiser, its members are unsure what to expect, but are hoping for a good turnout.

“We hope to get enough volunteers to conduct the car wash smoothly,” Subramanian said “Since it is a car wash, we don’t know for sure how many people driving down El Camino Real will stop. But from past clubs’ efforts, we can predict that several people running their weekend errands will not mind stopping for a cause.”

The Invisible Children Club still welcomes any students who wish to join. Interested students should stop by during one of the club meetings on Thursdays at lunch in Room 309.

Paly is one of 2,053 schools already participating in the Schools for Schools program, according to the Invisible Children Web site. New Invisible Children clubs can be formed in any community up until Dec. 18. Visit the Invisible Children Web site to find out how to start a club.