Ben Franklin would be proud.
His university's students are no longer just saving for a rainy day.
Instead, in an outpouring of generosity, they're giving their pennies,
nickels, dimes and quarters to those affected by the tragedies in
New York and Washington.
Since that infamous September Tuesday, Penn students have
been searching for ways to help the victims and their families. With
Greek coffeehouses and donation cups on Locust Walk, the
student body has raised more than $9,000 since last Monday to
benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
This most recent figure does not include totals from students who
donated to the table at Houston Hall, or those who donated at their
college houses.
Before last Monday, which marked the start of an official
campus-wide donation effort, led by a local charity, Penn students
had already donated around $15,000 through a sorority charity
party, fraternity coffeehouse and donations at Houston Hall.
The campus-wide decision to aid in the relief efforts came from
Change for Change, a charitable organization spearheaded by
Undergraduate Assembly Chairwoman Dana Hork that raises
money for community projects through the collection of loose
change.
But these past two weeks have seen more than loose change.
Wharton, usually the money-makers, became money-givers after
raising $1,200 on Locust Walk for the relief efforts.
"Penn students can band together in crisis," Social Planning and
Events Committee President Kevin Meyers said.
SPEC was one group who put their creativity to use with their
charity. They took last year's Spring Fling T-shirts and once again
sold them, this time for $1. Then at the No Place Like Penn Grill `n'
Chill, SPEC sold spirit ribbons. The sales from the T-shirts and
the ribbons brought in $400 for the Red Cross.
Some students took it upon themselves to raise money
independent of a student group. A handful of students had a
dinner party in their home and raised $400.
"It's amazing how groups that never worked together in the past
are coming together to raise money for the same cause," Hork
said.
"I hope students will think of Change for Change throughout the
rest of the year when planning philanthropy events," she said.
"There's an ongoing need even when we're not in a time of
crisis."
College houses will turn in the money they collected next Monday.
And this Friday marks the deadline for student groups to hand in
their donations.
Hork anticipates the total will exceed $10,000 when all of the
money is tallied. The UA plans to announce the official total during
an Oct. 11 ceremony commemorating the attacks.
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