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Florence, KY (March 11, 2010) — Everyone has seen the faces of heartache in Haiti, and the response from the world has been tremendous, raising millions of dollars and countless volunteers giving of their time and expertise. Dana Hildebrand, a faculty member at Beckfield College, was drawn to help based on a personal connection to a young man in Haiti her mother tried to help prior to this natural disaster. Her relationship with this impoverished country and her empathy with its people jump started students at Beckfield College to launch a fundraising effort that netted $2000 for the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund in just weeks under her leadership.
Although money challenges are nothing new to struggling non-traditional students at Beckfield College, the tragedy unfolding before their eyes generated compassion and action. These students saw pain, struggle and mounting problems. This instructor was moved by her own mother trying to help a young Haitian man who was falling through the cracks of a country unable to help him. Hildebrand’s mother died before she was able to successfully meet his needs, but the journey made an impact and motivated her daughter to act with the help of her students.
“I thought it would be realistic to raise $500, even in a terrible economy, because we have amazing people here at Beckfield,” explained Hildebrand. “I knew it was lofty, but I wanted to shoot high. Unbelievably, we raised a total of $1882 dollars from ticket sales and donations and then the college kicked in to bring the total to $2000.”
Students worked aggressively to get donations of all kinds from area businesses, including a grill from Lowes, spa packages, baby goods, automobile service gift certificates and more. They pulled together twelve packages of goods valued at more than $3000 and sold raffle tickets. It may have been Hildebrand that led the effort, but it was the students who made it happen.
“Our students are focused on a future that is better than their present,” explained Diane Wolfer, President, Beckfield College. “They wanted to give this same hope to the people in Haiti. This fundraiser enabled them to do it.”
About Beckfield College
Beckfield College is a private, career college accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) that has been evolving to meet the educational needs of its learners while meeting the demands of the community and area businesses since 1984. With a campus in Florence, Kentucky and another in Tri-County Cincinnati, Beckfield College focuses on career paths in Business Administration, Cardiology Technician, Computer Network Administration, Criminal Justice, Health Care Management, Health Information Technology, Hospitality Administration, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Technology, Nursing (RN to BSN, LPN, RN) and Paralegal Studies. Instructors bring years of real-world, practical experience and education into the classrooms to enhance the students’ education. For further information, visit www.beckfield.edu and follow Beckfield College on Facebook.
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