From donation tables in Houston Hall to Greek coffeehouses,
Penn students have already collected over $15,000 to help the
relief efforts in New York and Washington following last week's
deadly terrorist attacks.
The campus-wide initiative is being coordinated through Change
for Change -- a charitable organization that raises money for
community projects through the collection of loose change -- and
will hold various fundraisers across campus over the next two
weeks to send aid to those affected by the tragedy.
On Thursday night, Sigma Delta Tau and Alpha Chi Omega raised
nearly $5,000 at a downtown philanthropy event, much of which
will be given to Change for Change. And yesterday -- as the first
official Change for Change event -- Sigma Alpha Epsilon hosted a
coffeehouse that raised $1,500.
"So many groups on campus are interested in philanthropy and
do not always know where to give the money," Undergraduate
Assembly Chairwoman Dana Hork said. "This way we can
coordinate the efforts."
Hork, who is the founder of Change for Change, said the
members of the Sphinx Senior Society decided to begin the
campus-wide initiative for the relief efforts in order to maximize the
effectiveness of the various fundraisers going on around
campus.
"As a campus we can make one big meaningful donation," Hork
said. "As a community of leaders, it is something we decided to do
and groups are continually joining the effort."
Four of the five student government branches -- the
Undergraduate Assembly, Social Planning and Events Committee,
Student Activities Council and the Student Committee on
Undergraduate Education -- have joined the coalition as well as
various other student groups, from the Panhellenic Council to
UTV-13.
"I hope groups think of Change for Change as Penn's charity,"
Hork said. "We are hoping more groups will contact us this week
and next week."
Groups across campus have been supporting the relief effort,
which includes everything from selling spirit ribbons at No Place
Like Penn's Grill `n' Chill to placing donation cups at every table
during Friday's Activities Day on Locust Walk.
In addition, the UA will keep a table open in Houston Hall today
through Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the next two weeks,
where students can donate money for Change for Change and
receive information about various volunteer efforts. Civic House
members will help man the table, where students will also sell
spirit buttons in remembrance of the victims of the terrorist
strike.
Last Friday, Penn's Department of Human Resources set up a
booth in Houston Hall, successfully raising $7,800 for the Red
Cross.
The relief effort will continue for two weeks, at which point Change
for Change will look to find another organization to sponsor. Hork
said the program will continue to operate throughout the year.
"While there is this two week push, we hope to emphasize the
idea of charitable giving throughout the year," Hork said. "Change
for Change is an ongoing effort."
Recipients of the program's efforts have in the past included St.
Mary's Family Respite Center, Parents and Children against Drugs
and the University City Hospital Coalition. And the program has
expanded to other college campuses, including Amherst
College.
"My goal is that more college campuses will become interested in
this program," Hork added. "College campuses all over can come
together to make an impact and raise funds for causes in their
areas."
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