Graduate Student Party Draws 1,200, Raises $5,000 for Make-A-Wish

More than 1,200 Harvard graduate students gathered last Friday night for an event described by many as "the party of the year," while, at the same time, they raised more than $5,000 to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Boston.

Organized by the Harvard Graduate Council (HGC), a group representing the graduate and professional schools at Harvard, the event had two objectives: to promote cross-discipline interaction among the 10 schools in a social setting, and to benefit and support the greater community surrounding Harvard.

Led by Peter Baeza and Steve Spinner of the Business School and Billy Lee of the Graduate School of Design, the Mega Party was organized with the help of representatives from each of the schools.

The eccentric and spectacular Indian Elvis party band,

consisting of students from the Business School, jammed downstairs at the Mama Kin club, while a professional DJ worked the Lansdowne St. Playhouse upstairs: the entire building at 36 Lansdowne St. in Boston echoed with dancing, laughter, and fun as the future doctors, lawyers, teachers, scientists, managers, architects, writers, and politicians blended together under the disco lights.

"This is the best crowd I've ever seen and worked with," said one of the employees of the Lansdowne St. Playhouse.

And it was all for a good cause: The nonprofit Make-A-Wish Foundation is dedicated to granting the wishes of children between the ages of 2 and 18 years old who have been diagnosed with life-threatening or terminal diseases.

The Mega Party originally was planned to raise enough money to grant one wish (approximately $2,500), but since 1,200 students participated, enough was raised to provide wishes for two children. "What a great way to support a good cause while having a terrific time," said one of the students who attended the event.