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| • Purdue Hurricane Relief efforts Web site |
September 27, 2005
Purdue students raise more than $16,000 for hurricane relief
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in late August, Purdue students have rallied to raise thousands of dollars to help people whose lives were devastated by the natural disaster.
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After many student organizations planned events and collected donations, a group of students today presented a $16,088 check to Denise Hollinger, financial development chairwoman and member of the board for the Lafayette, Ind., chapter of the American Red Cross.
"Purdue students have shown time and again what an impact they can have when they work together," said Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of students. "Without any prompting from faculty, a number of student groups decided to do what they could to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina."
A Purdue student who was directly impacted by the hurricane, Lester Smith, spoke during the Red Cross presentation.
"Hurricane Katrina has not only damaged property but it has torn my family from New Orleans and strewn them across the country," said Smith, a student from the New Orleans area pursuing a doctorate in biomedical engineering. "Though it has been difficult, these donations are but a small part of the care that Purdue has put forth to me, my family and our fellow Americans in the Gulf Coast to give us comfort in this delicate time.
"My family and I truly appreciate the concern and the care that Purdue has shown to us."
Fund raising for the student relief effort was organized through various student organizations, including Mortar Board, Purdue Student Government and Purdue Graduate Student Government, in collaboration with groups that include the Purdue Student Union Board and the Residence Hall Association.
One of the students responsible for organizing the effort was Chelsea Steele, Purdue Mortar Board community service chair.
"The response by the student body to the hurricane relief fund-raiser has been phenomenal," said Steele, a senior majoring in food process engineering and pharmaceutical sciences from South Bend, Ind. "I am still receiving e-mails from student organizations asking how they can help."
Purdue Athletics also was involved in the fund raising, with an event where Boilermaker football players met the public and signed autographs. Mortar Board members also set up collection points at several home athletic events.
In addition to raising money, University Residences provided housing for displaced families of Purdue students from the Gulf Coast, as well as students transferring to Purdue from the affected area and to high school seniors from the hurricane-damaged areas who enroll in local schools.
Other fund-raisers included an end-of-summer party organized by Owen Hall, a Mardi Gras-themed dance organized by the Purdue Student Union Board and students handing out Mardi Gras beads and collecting donations throughout campus.
The campus groups that raised money included: Alpha Kappa Lambda, Alpha Kappa Psi, Alpha Mu, Alpha Phi Omega, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Ballroom Dance Club, Black Cultural Center, Black Graduate Association, College Democrats, Gamma Phi Delta, Grand Prix, Health Science Freshmen, Interfraternity Council, Itasca Club, Kappa Delta Pi, Latin Student Association, Multicultural Greek Council, Panhellenic Association, Purdue Engineering Student Council, Pi Tau Sigma, Puerto Rican Student Association, Purdue Alumni Association, Purdue Athletics, Purdue Juggling and Unicycle Club, Purdue Student Engineering Foundation, Purdue Student Radio, Purdue Young Farmers, Reamer Club, Salsa Club, School of Health Science Student Council, Sigma Delta Tau, Skull & Crescent Leadership Honorary, Swing Dance Club, Tango Club, and University Libraries.
Students are continuing to raise money for hurricane victims. One upcoming event will be the Hurricane Katrina Live Aid concert from 12:30-7:30 p.m. at the outdoor Slayter Hill Amphitheater. The fund raiser will include food, merchandise and live music from area bands. All money raised will be donated to relief efforts.
Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu
Sources: Pablo Malavenda, (765) 494-1232, pablo@purdue.edu
Denise Hollinger, (765) 742-6975
Lester Smith, smith425@purdue.edu
Chelsea Steele, cqsteele@purdue.edu
Trista Anderson, Live Aid Concert organizer, (616) 886-9946, tanderso@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
Red Cross representative Denise Hollinger, at left, helps Chelsea Steele, organizer of the relief fund and Mortar Board community chair, hold up money raised by Purdue students for Hurricane Katrina victims. With the help of more than 20 student organizations, over $16,000 was raised to help Hurricane Katrina victims, and campus fund-raising activities are continuing. (Purdue News Service photo/David Umberger)
A publication-quality photo is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2005/katrinafund-redcross.jpg
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