Fundraiser's 'Three Cups of Tea' Performance Cancelled, Replaced with 'Kite Runner'

In light of recent concerns regarding the credibility of co-author of Three Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson, students at the Elgin Community College have decided to cancel the originally-planned fundraising production and replace it with another show.

The T.E.A. (Teach, Educate, Advocate) Around the World student organization was planning on raising funds for a girls’ school in Pakistan by presenting a theatrical adaptation of Three Cups of Tea to be staged by the American Place Theatre on May 1.

Since October the group of students has been raising funds to support a school or schools that will make education available to girls in Pakistan. They planned to donate their money through the Central Asia Institute, a not-for-profit organization started by Mortenson.

Earlier this month, ECC became aware of questions raised in the media about the Central Asia Institute and some details of Greg Mortenson’s personal story.

The college immediately placed the transfer of any funds to the Central Asia Institute on hold. Records show that $8,147 in contributions have been submitted to the institute to date, while ECC retains an additional $15,811 in donations to this student-run project.  

The students have resolved to find a responsible and credible organization to achieve their goal of supporting education for girls in Pakistan. Among several potential partner organizations under consideration are UNICEF, UNESCO, and The Citizen’s Foundation.

The group has decided to move forward with the May 1 fundraising event by presenting American Place Theatre’s The Kite Runner at 2 p.m. held at Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL.

Adapted from an acclaimed novel by Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner beautifully portrays the improbable friendship of two boys on opposite ends of society against the backdrop of 1970s Afghanistan. Through the eyes of Amir, the young protagonist, the audience is taken on a moving journey of friendship and betrayal in a society of severe class division. For more information on this production, visit americanplacetheatre.org. For tickets, contact the ECC Arts Center box office at 847-622-0300 or tickets.elgin.edu.

All patrons who purchased tickets to the previously scheduled performances of Three Cups of Tea on May 1 should have been contacted by the ECC Arts Center box office. Patrons could choose between attending the performance of The Kite Runner or receiving a refund of their ticket purchase.

The public is encouraged to contact the ECC Arts Center box office at 847-622-0300 with any concerns regarding performance tickets or donations.

To make a donation to T.E.A. Around the World, send a check made payable to Elgin Community College with “Girls’ education in Pakistan” in the memo line to ATTN: Dorothy Hill, Arts Center Box Office, Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL 60123.