The Organization of African Students raised almost double the amount it raised last year at its fifth annual date auction Friday night.

OAS, a GW student group dedicated to increasing awareness of African issues, drew more than 100 students from GW, Georgetown and Howard to the event.

Profits from the date auction will go to the Global Medical Relief Program and the Hope Initiative, a program that works to improve the health conditions of people primarily in Ho, Ghana.

They buy mosquito nets for children and “bring qualified doctors and qualified nurses close to the people that need them most and the people that can least afford them,” said Selamawit Worku, a senior and co-president of OAS.

What initially began as a slow Friday night quickly evolved into a sea of flailing arms and frenzied bidding, as the festivities got underway. OAS had 20 female and 12 male dates for sale.

Student Association Executive Vice President and “date” Brand Kroeger said, “I may go for 20 cents or 20 dollars … I’m just ready to get on that stage and get auctioned.”

Kroeger, a junior, proceeded to take off his jacket and dance on stage in order to elicit a response from the crowd. Eventually, Kroeger sold for $35.

Aaron Edmonds, a junior at Howard, said he originally intended to a buy a few dates. Although some dates were sold as pairs, buying more than one would prove difficult, as they often fetched up to as much as $100.

He said, “I’m going to buy a couple of my friends, but my pockets really aren’t too fat.”

OAS has been active on campus since 1992. Each year, the organization focuses on a specific issue in Africa. In the past, they have looked at HIV/AIDS, women and children. This year, the organization is taking on education.