The event featured comedians, poetry, Capitol Green, the MSU Breakdance Club and Impulse Dance. It was hosted by Campus Interfaith Council, Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, Muslim Student Association, Wesley Foundation, St. John’s Catholic Student Organization, Jewish Student Union, Baha’i Association and Sigma Beta Rho fraternity.

Interdisciplinary humanities junior Rebecca Farnum, who helped coordinate the event, said the sponsoring organizations hoped to raise about $10,000 from the night.

Money also was raised from food sales and a silent auction held in Erickson Kiva. All proceeds will go toward Partners in Health, a grassroots medical organization that has been working in Haiti for about 20 years.

“There’s a desperate need for shelter and for access to clean water and food,” said Andrew Marx, director of communications for Partners in Health. “Ten thousand dollars is a good effort and will be much appreciated and can make a real difference.”

Although the various sponsoring groups had not worked together prior to the talent show, coming together to help Haiti was not difficult, said Geoff Levin, an international relations junior and president of the Jewish Student Union.

“We live in such a religiously divided world, I feel this was something everyone could come together on,” Levin said. “I’m really impressed not only by the individual leaders but the community. We’ve all been able to come together and unite for this cause.”

Graduate student Zain Shamoon performed his slam poetry Thursday evening, which primarily addressed cultural issues. Shamoon said giving back to Haiti was a responsibility for MSU students.

“We’re all privileged going to school pursuing higher education,” Shamoon said. “We’re not going to sit here and ignore our neighbors. We’re going to show that we care.”

On Sunday, the second part of the auction will be held in the Union Parlor Rooms. Items in the auction will range from $30 to several hundred so both students and members of the community can participate, said psychology senior Nafissa Yakubova, who is organizing the event. Much of the artwork came from local artists as well as MSU students.

Mathematics freshman Heather Swarthout said she came to the event because it sounded cool and she was interested in helping.

“The media has pulled out of Haiti and they still need help,” she said. “They still need financial support to get to a stable place again.”