VCU students find creative ways to raise money for Haiti earthquake relief

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University students are coming up with creative ways to raise money for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

Advanced students from the VCU Craft/Material Studies department in the VCU School of the Arts are creating jewelry for sale at a Richmond gallery, and the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross to support Haiti relief.

The “What is your Heart Made of” jewelry sale takes place on Thursday, Feb. 11, from noon to 8 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, Feb. 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Quirk Gallery, 311 W. Broad St., Richmond. A reception will be held on Thursday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m.  

Some of the students are taking a stone setting and casting class and others are in a surface class. The students and their professors, Susie Ganch, Ph.D., and Natalya Pinchuk, Ph.D., organized the jewelry sale.  

VCU’s fraternities and sororities will donate money raised during the “Greek Week Penny Wars” to Haiti relief efforts. Greek Week takes place Feb. 22 through Feb. 27 during which time each fraternity and sorority collects change in a jug. Money collected is split evenly between the national philanthropies chosen by the winning fraternity and the winning sorority. This year, fraternity and sorority members have decided to split the money between the American Red Cross and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

The VCU community has been quick to respond after the powerful earthquake rocked Haiti in January, killing tens of thousands of people and causing catastrophic damage.  VCU employees continue to support Haiti relief though the VCU Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, the CVC. VCU Health System employees may also use payroll deductions to spread their Haiti donations over five pay periods.  VCU students, staff and faculty can have the greatest immediate impact by donating money to the American Red Cross or another reputable relief organization, according to Cathy Howard, Ph.D., vice provost for community engagement.

Dan Ream, VCU Libraries director of outreach and distance education, has created a Haiti blog to serve as a resource for VCU and the community. It includes information about the country’s history, heritage and political structure; the earthquake; and recovery efforts and can be found at
http://blogs.vcu.edu/caringresources/2010/01/earthquake-in-haiti-resources-for-information.html.