Purdue students raise more than $26,000 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.

Hurricane Katrina
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After many student organizations planned events and collected donations, a group of students on Sept. 27 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. Still, fund raisers continued across campus, and about a month later, another $10,000 collected by students was donated to the 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. more

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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