The Republic of Hope, a club at Iowa State, is in its second year as an organization. The club is devoted to volunteering and fundraising for both local and international causes.

The club organizes many events each semester in an effort to raise money for different causes.

Republic of Hope is hosting a silent auction/raffle from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on April 27, 2013 in the Cardinal Room of the Memorial Union.

The feature item up for auction is a training lesson and practice shooting with U.S. Olympic archery team member, Wes Moeller.

Places such as Hickory Park, Hy-Vee, Panera Bread and Alpha Copies have all helped in the fundraising effort by donating gift cards and other items to be raffled off at the fundraising event.

Raffle tickets will be sold for $1 and after the purchase of $10 worth of tickets, each additional $1 purchase will earn two tickets.

All proceeds will benefit GiGi’s playhouse, the Fischer Foundation and ACCESS, the local battered woman’s shelter.

GiGi’s Playhouse is an organization that helps raise money and awareness for children with Down syndrome. The Fischer Foundation provides free or low-rent housing to families of military members who have been injured in combat.

The members of Republic of Hope have set a goal of raising at least $1,000 through this event, which will go toward three local charities.

Along with that, they would like to get their name out and raise more awareness about their club.

“Basically we’re also trying to get the word out about our group and get more people to join,” said Sami Good, sophomore in event management. “We’re lacking numbers, so we’re trying to get more people to become part of the club.”

Each member of Republic of Hope chooses a charity they would like to work to fundraise for based on a personal connection with the charity.

The club officially has 18 members, six of whom are extremely active.

Students may join the club for many different reasons; however, many of them have one thing in common: a passion for charity.

Michael Misra, president of Republic of Hope, hopes that the club will give students an opportunity to help a good cause, while also learning things along the way.

“The goals of the club are to provide worthwhile organizations and charities with financial backing, along with giving students the opportunity to volunteer and also learn a little about the organizations they’re sponsoring,” Misra said.

Emily Conell, sophomore in event management, has been a member of Republic of Hope since the beginning of this semester.

Conell said that she heard about the club through a friend and joined because the club seemed to mix her interest in charity and event planning perfectly.

“It was two things that I’m kind of interested in, so I went to a meeting and I liked it, so I stayed,” Conell said.

Republic of Hope holds weekly meetings at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays in room 2213 of the Memorial Union. The group also has a Facebook page.