By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Sister Cities of Hays program is partnering with the Fort Hays State University soccer team to raise money for the museum in Hays’ sister city, Santa Maria de Fe, Paraguay.

A portion of the money from the tickets sales and concessions for the men’s soccer game against Oklahoma Baptist at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, will go to the museum. The men’s and women’s soccer teams have had members from Paraguay and so this fundraiser seemed like a natural fit.

Information on the fundraiser will be presented at half time.

The museum houses art created by the Jesuit Priests and natives to decorate the missions that date back to the 1600s when Santa Maria was founded.

The artwork was hidden from sight in community members’ basements to protect it from ruling dictators. Marianna Beach found the art when she traveled to that area in the 1970s. She donated money and helped raise money in the Hays area to fund a museum for the art.

Today the museum is a cultural hub for the region. It not only protects the art, but draws income to the community in the form of tourist dollars.

The museum is need of about $2,000 worth of maintenance work, including security upgrades, lighting and renovation of the museum’s bathrooms.

Olga Detrixhe, who is on the Hays Sister Cities board, said the Hays group has just started with this fundraising effort.

If you can’t make it to the game, but would still like to donate to the renovations at the Santa Maria museum, you may contact the Hays Sister Cities board through its Facebook page.

To learn more about Santa Maria and the Sister Cities program, visit the foyer of the Hays Public Library to view the “World Apart, Cities Together” art installation that was dedicated when a group from Santa Maria visited Hays this summer.