RPI Relief: Support for Japan raised $10,550.62 for charities

RPI Relief: Support for Japan

On March 11, 2011, the lives of millions were changed by a category 8.9 earthquake off the the coast of Sendai, Japan. The New York Times Map of the Damage from the Earthquake depicts the widespread area of death and destruction which continues as a result of the catastrophe. The quake set off a devastating tsunami that inundated an area 30 kilometers from the shoreline. This disaster is being called the worst crisis in Japan since World War II and it is not over yet. There continue to be strong aftershocks, accompanied by tsunami warnings, and there is also a threat of serious damage and severe environmental impact at the Fukushima nuclear plants. The death toll is expected to climb into the thousands and over 200,000 people have been displaced due to the combination of events. The crisis is not limited to northeastern Japan where some areas have been without food, water, or power. There are resource shortages in Tokyo, as well as cities further to the south. In addition to a number of international news agencies that are reporting on current events, NKH Television, Japan's public broadcasting organization, provides up-to-date coverage of events in Japan as they unfold.

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President Shirley Ann Jackson, in a letter to the Rensselaer Community on March 15, states, "As members of the global community, we feel great compassion for the people of Japan as they face a long, difficult battle in recovering from this disaster." Rensselaer, President Jackson said, has decided to make a university contribution of $10,000 to each of the three organizations below, and will match contributions from members of the Rensselaer community received before March 23, for these three organizations. Click on President Jackson's letter for the complete text and for details of the match.

In addition, Rensselaer students in the Japanese Cultural Association and in the Pi Delta Psi fraternity, with families and friends in Japan, along with the Community Advocates worked with the Dean of Students Office over Spring Break to re-activate RPI Relief, an organization established to raise money for survivors in times of disaster. They sent out a message to student clubs and organizations to encourage them to help raise funds, and developed this website to track events and a Facebook page to provide a venue for student reflection. The students set a goal to raise an additional $10,000 before the end of the semester. General donations were split evenly between AmeriCares, the American Red Cross, and Save the Children, and designated specifically for Japan relief. Campaign totals will be updated weekly on this website and on a large thermometer in the West Lobby of the Union. Including the institute match for all initiatives known by March 23, a grand total of $10,550.62 was raised from this effort, with $4,678.01 for the American Red Cross Japan effort, $2,936.30 for Save the Children, and $2,936.31 to AmeriCares.

Special RPI Relief Events at Rensselaer: A complete chronological listing of all the programs hosted by the students is listed below:

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The growing list of Student Groups involved in RPI Relief follows:

Last modified: Sep 12, 2011
Community Advocates, Phone: (518) 276-3098, Fax: (518) 276-4839