More hurricane relief efforts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 8, 2005

559.278.5366 or 246.1717

‘Fresno State Hurricane Relief’ to raise funds for Katrina victims

The Fresno State Hurricane Relief Project - a formal comprehensive drive by the California State University, Fresno community to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina - was launched Sept. 7 with more than 85 students attending the first organizing meeting.

University President John D. Welty announced the drive in a special message to the campus community earlier in the day and called on its 23,000-plus students, faculty, staff and administrators to contribute at least $1 to help those whose lives have been forever altered by Hurricane Katrina.

“The recent devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina is being called the largest natural disaster to ever hit the United States,” Welty said. “It has affected the lives of millions of people, hundreds of thousands have lost their homes, jobs, possessions, and thousands may have lost their lives.”

Welty said this campaign is an opportunity to provide hope to some of the victims.

“This hope stems from the generosity and caring in the citizens of this great nation, and that of our university community," he said. "The goal is simply to spread the word and raise as much as possible for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.”

"here will be numerous locations and events all over campus in the coming weeks where all members of the university and general community will have an opportunity to donate. The drive will be spearheaded by the Office of Civic Engagement and Service-Learning and the Division of Student Affairs, which will collect all funds and disburse them to agencies involved in the relief efforts.

“One hundred percent of all donations will go to these relief agencies,” Welty said.

The drive incorporates a project announced by the university’s Athletics Department last week as well as several individual efforts by students and campus organizations. Additionally the university has been assisting student evacuees with emergency admission to the university after the hurricane forced their their schools to close.

Two students were enrolled this week, another two have been admitted and four others are in the admission process, said Bernard Vinovrski, associate vice president of enrollment services. The Fresno State Parents Association has also provided financial support to these incoming students as well as to currently enrolled students from the stricken area who are trying to help their families evacuate.

Through its Catastrophic Events Fund, the parents group provided a $400 stipend to current students Zakiyyah and Khadijah Abdul-Mateen after the pair exhausted their personal resources to help bring their families here. Also, funds were provided to Megan Steege and Brad Ewelee, who transferred here this week from the Louisiana State University and the University of New Orleans.

The Parents Association was established in 1999 and is now more than 600 families strong.

"The Parents Association was created by Fresno State parents who wanted to make a difference in the lives of our students,” said Dr. Paul Oliaro, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “Thanks to their generosity, we can step in so quickly during a time of need to help these victims.”

At the Sept. 7 kick off, representatives of the various efforts under way or planned responded to the president’s call to action. About 65 student organizations and many campus departments have expressed interest, said Chris Fiorentino, director of the Civic Engagement office on campus. Most of those who attended were looking for a way to become involved in the campaign to assist victims of the tragedy that struck the Gulf Coast Aug. 29.

To date, individual university efforts include:

A special benefit concert by the Fresno Art Museum’s Rhythms of Art jazz concert series, and KFSR 90.7 FM, Fresno State’s non-commercial radio station, on Thursday, Sept. 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the museum’s Bonner Auditorium. The concert will feature the Armen Nalbandian Quintet, with several other special guests, and will highlight the rich musical legacy of New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz.
The Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO), a student organization in the Craig School of Business at Fresno State, will donate a portion of the proceeds from its "Energy Station" concession during the Eagles concert in the Save Mart Center on Friday (Sept. 9). The concession is the club’s business venture selling fresh dipped fruits at a majority of the events in the center.
Fresno State's Athletics Department will seek donations during Fresno State's season opening football game against Weber State on Saturday (Sept. 10). Bulldog student-athletes will solicit donations during the pre-game tailgate functions, at Bulldog Boulevard and during the game itself. Red Cross stations will also be manned at various locations throughout Bulldog Stadium for those who wish to donate. All proceeds will be turned over to the American Red Cross to assist with the hurricane relief efforts.
Operation LOVE, coordinated by Fresno State’s Sigma Nu fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta sorority and Omega Psi Phi fraternity, are conducting collections in the Free Speech Area on campus. (LOVE stands for Louisiana Outreach Volunteer Effort).

Also, the Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang Tour announced today that the legendary performers, who will play in the Save Mart Center on campus on Nov. 20, have made a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for Hurricane Katrina. Fans will be able to make their own contributions to the American Red Cross at the Fresno concert.

For the Fresno State Hurricane Relief Project, Welty also invited the general public to participate and encouraged individuals to contribute to the relief effort beyond monetary donations. In addition to the minimum $1 per person donation, for example, Welty called on students and employees to help by donating time and professional expertise to The American Red Cross as it undertakes the largest mobilization of resources in its 125-year history.

“The American Red Cross is requesting disaster volunteers to assist with their emergency sheltering mission,” Welty said. “The greatest need is for medical and mental health professionals, yet others are also encouraged to apply. If your assistance can be utilized, deployment will last 7 to 21 days.”

Departure dates and locations are not known yet. Welty said any Fresno State personnel interested in this option should discuss the matter with their respective supervisor for approval. He encouraged potential volunteers to contact Sharon Martinez of the Fresno Chapter of the American Red Cross at 559.455.1000.

Welty also encouraged students and employees to coordinate a donation collection event in their classes, departments or offices. “Put out a collection container of any type in your office; ask colleagues to donate during the next staff meeting; urge students to donate during a class donation drive; encourage any student organization you may have contact with to organize their own event to raise money.”

The president said this also provides an opportunity for educators and students to use this “teachable moment” to engage students in important discussions and in getting involved. Conversations and opportunities to demonstrate the application of knowledge in areas such as political science, journalism, the physical sciences, psychology, sociology, criminology, economics and much more abound, he said.

“This is an opportunity to talk about charity, ethics and civic engagement,” Welty told the university community. “I hope that you will consider ways that you can spread the word about the Fresno State Hurricane Relief Project and use this event as a way to help our students grow intellectually and personally.”

Donations may be sent directly to the Fresno State Hurricane Relief Project, 2555 E. San Ramon Ave., M/S SB 120, Fresno, CA 93740-8034. Please make checks payable to “CSUF Foundation” with “Hurricane Relief Fund” in the memo section. Donations also may be delivered directly to the Science Building, Room 136 or picked up from campus offices by calling 278.7079.

For more information about the Fresno State Hurricane Relief Project, contact Chris Fiorentino at chrisf@csufresno or call 278.7079.