Worcester, MA-When tragedy struck our City of Worcester on December 3, 1999, Assumption College pulled together in support for the fallen firefighters' families. Almost immediately, the Student Government Association and the Office of Student Activities began coordinating the efforts of collecting student donations. To date, over $4,400 has been raised from the combined efforts of the students, faculty and staff of the College. Following is a breakdown of those activities:
*Four male students honed their culinary skills by sponsoring an Italian Dinner for their fellow residence hall neighbors. These four men baked ziti, meatballs, salad, breadsticks and desserts. They charged for each plate and made over $700.
*Members of the Student Government Association went door-to-door in each of the residence halls, as well as setting up a table in the Student Campus Center. They raised $500.
*Sodexho Marriott Food Service, our food service provider on Campus, waived all costs for students who attended the Holiday Midnight Breakfast. The breakfast, which was held during the final exam session, was to be paid for out of Student Government Funds. Instead, Sodexho Marriott asked that the costs, $1070, be donated to the fireman's fund. In addition, Sodexho Marriott also brought food and beverages to the fire site and to our neighborhood fire station during the weeklong ordeal.
*The Office of Pastoral Activity held two collections at the Holy Day Masses on December 8, and collected over $1000.
*One of the fallen firefighters, Timothy Jackson, was the brother of our Campus Bookstore assistant manager Paula Howarth. The Campus Bookstore collected donations of just over $500.
*The Department of Athletics donated all proceeds the Men's and Women's Basketball games which were held on Monday, December 6 and netted $551.
*The staff of our d'Alzon Library held a collection within their department and raised almost $100.
* Several members of the men's soccer team brought 60 cups of hot coffee down to firefighters and other personnel working to locate their missing commrades. It was not a team event, just something that a few members wanted to do for the firefighters.
*The women of our Business Office collected, wrapped and distributed Christmas presents for the 17 children left without fathers. No approximate value available.
*Our Office of Public Safety provided six (6) officers to help the Worcester Police Department with traffic and crowd safety during the memorial service and procession, which drew over 30,000 firefighters alone.
*The Office of Public Affairs, Office of Admissions, and the Office of Institutional Advancement all had individuals donate their time and expertise during a one day radio-thon held in Worcester. The 14-hour day helped bring in over $234,000 for the firefighters fund.
*Assumption College, in conjunction with other members of the Worcester Consortium, Inc., "have offered a collective effort to help ensure a secure future to the children" of the fallen firefighter families. "All participating institutions will provide full undergraduate scholarship assistance to those children who qualify for admission to one of the members institutions." Assumption College is proud to be one of these participating institutions.
While we recognize the varying degrees of contribution from our College community, from the sizable tuition scholarships to the students donating coffee, we are very proud of all of our students, faculty and staff who came forward at such a difficult time. It shows Assumption College's commitment to it's community and the spiritual depth of it's students, faculty, and staff.
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