The 5th annual Night in Africa event to benefit Selfless Solutions will be held Friday, June 19, at the Altoona Grand Hotel. The funds raised will help Selfless Solutions build better futures for Tanzanian children and youth.

The event features authentic African cuisine, drinks (beer, wine and spirits), and access to a silent auction that has in the past included such items as an African safari and a week stay at a beach home.

Tickets are $95 plus fees and available at eventbrite.com; search Altoona. The direct link is www.eventbrite.com/e/5th-annual-night-in-africa-with-selfless-solutions-tickets-1989187945693

Founded in 2019 by Altoona native Patrick Irwin, Selfless Solutions expands access to quality education and economic opportunity for the Arusha community.

In celebration of the fifth anniversary, a donor from Blair County has committed a $50,000 matching gift for the event. Every dollar raised will be matched, doubling the impact of the community’s support, Irwin said.

All funds raised are used to sustain and grow Selfless Solutions’ programs, allowing them to provide more children and youth with the better future that they deserve.

Event sponsors for the Night in Africa are being sought and items to use for the event’s silent auction are being accepted.

For more information about the event, about sponsorships or to donate items for the silent auction, contact Irwin at 814-207-8490 or email patrick.irwin@selflesssolutions.org.

Since its inception in 2019, the Night in Africa event has raised nearly $200,000 to support children and youth in Arusha. When combined with child sponsorships, recurring donations, and other one-time gifts from the community, that figure is more than double, Irwin said.

Because of the community’s efforts and generosity:

— More than 225 children are currently attending high-quality private schools in Arusha, including 75 students at Selfless Solution’s own nursery school, Selfless Nursery

— Nearly 200 public school students have mastered English fundamentals through completion of the e-Shuleni Program

— A dedicated local team of 14 staff members is in place, working every day to support these students and their families.

Looking ahead to the next five years, Irwin hopes to expand the number of children reached through sponsorship. The planned business incubator launch this year will support local entrepreneurs in formalizing and growing their businesses.

“Our goal is not just to help children access education, but to ensure all Tanzanian children and youth have the opportunity to truly thrive,” Irwin said in a news release. “Without meaningful economic opportunity, education alone is not enough.”