Lehigh students, faculty, staff raise $20,000 for Red Cross disaster

Lehigh students, faculty and staff raised $20,210.17 in three weeks for the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
Like most families, the Lehigh family took a few days to recover from the horror of the Sept. 11 attacks, said Lehigh President Gregory C. Farrington during a check presentation to the Red Cross on campus Tuesday (11/6). But like most Americans, our thoughts and actions quickly turned from shock and anger to support and healing. There have been too many acts of kindness by Lehigh people to list, but today's donation to the Red Cross reflects how Lehigh has rallied proudly to the cause.
I'd like to personally thank all those students, faculty and staff members who have responded so generously and graciously to the needs of our campus and to the needs of our fellow Americans. Their efforts truly represent the very finest and noblest of Lehigh.
John R. Hughes, executive director of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, said, The outpouring of generosity to the Red Cross from the Lehigh Valley community during the past few weeks has been tremendous and we are very humbled. What has taken place has been extraordinary-- and people have responded in an extraordinary way. As a representative of the Lehigh Valley Chapter, we feel a great responsibility to uphold the trust placed in our important work. I applaud the efforts of Lehigh students, faculty and staff, who have given so much to help those in need during this difficult time.
Dana Aguanno, Katie Hunt and Lindsay Massucci, student members of the Lehigh chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, spearheaded the student portion of the fund drive, placing canisters around campus and organizing a skip-a-meal day to raise additional money. Faculty and staff donations were coordinated by Lehigh's Development Office.
Lehigh also has created the September 11th Scholarship Fund in memory of those in the extended university family who were lost in the terrorist acts. A permanently endowed fund which will assure that funds will always be available to help Lehigh students face future emergency situations, it was made possible by a generous anonymous gift of $100,000 from a Lehigh alumnus.
--Janice Osborne, LV Red Cross
Contact: William Johnson
wjj0@lehigh.edu