Oxfam is an international relief and development organization that focuses on lasting solutions to poverty, hunger and injustice.
The Oxfam branch at Virginia Tech currently has travel mugs on sale at Easy Chair in University Mall in Blacksburg, Va. The mugs are just ten dollars and all proceeds go toward a fund for Haiti.
Stop by Easy Chair and purchase your mug today!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Ut Prosim Tailgate
It is second nature for the Virginia Tech Hokies to lend a helping hand when
others are in need. Despite the large size of their university, the Hokies are a close community and are known for standing together for important causes. The earthquake in Haiti has been devastating, but Virginia Tech has come together to aid in the efforts of rebuilding what was destroyed. They are doing this by living out their motto, “Ut Prosim,” or “that I may serve.”
Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. and Hokies United are hosting The First Annual Ut
Prosim Tailgate. This year’s event will specifically serve as the last of a series of events to fundraise for Hokies Helping Haiti. The event will include live music, family games, educational booths, fundraising activities, and raffles.
“The two organizations will be working together to bring Hokie Fans together for
family-friendly fun with proceeds going to help those affected by the tragic earthquake in Haiti,” said Sue Drzal, the administrative director for Downtown Blacksburg, Inc.
The First Annual Ut Prosim Tailgate will immediately follow the Spring Game on
Saturday, April 24, and is open to the entire community. The event is going to take
place between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in Market Square Park downtown. The Main
Street Inn, the Student Government Association and the Virginia Tech Student Alumni
Association are sponsoring this event.
According to organizers, “The primary objective is to raise money and awareness
for Haiti. However, the affair will also facilitate interaction between students, faculty, athletes, alumni, and local residents, groups and merchants.”
The tailgate for Haiti will include a Spirit Rally which is featuring the Hightie
Tighties and the Hokie Bird. There are also a number of entertainment acts that have
volunteered their time for the event. Lianna Dossik and Sean Pennington, The Shack
Band, and Always Morning will take the stage to perform. The Iron Hokietron is
scheduled to make an appearance as well.
According to Chris Cooke, who is helping organize the tailgate, a number of
businesses have donated prizes toward a raffle and others are donating a percentage of their sales. Businesses such as Gourmet Pantry, Tuck Chiropractic, Fringe Benefit, Taco Bell and Matrix Gallery are a few among the group that have donated prizes so far. A couple of the businesses that have agreed to donate a percentage of sales during the tailgate include Bud Fosters, Mad Dog and In Balance Yoga.
The event is open to the entire community, so there will be a variety of family
activities and games for all ages to participate in. According to Cooke, VT Greek Life will be in charge of these events. A wine and beer garden will be included at the tailgate as well.
“There will be education/awareness booths run by Bridges to Prosperity at Virginia Tech, Hens for Haiti, the Cranwell Center at Virginia Tech, Oxfam at Virginia Tech, Engineers Without Borders and more,” Cooke said.
others are in need. Despite the large size of their university, the Hokies are a close community and are known for standing together for important causes. The earthquake in Haiti has been devastating, but Virginia Tech has come together to aid in the efforts of rebuilding what was destroyed. They are doing this by living out their motto, “Ut Prosim,” or “that I may serve.”
Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. and Hokies United are hosting The First Annual Ut
Prosim Tailgate. This year’s event will specifically serve as the last of a series of events to fundraise for Hokies Helping Haiti. The event will include live music, family games, educational booths, fundraising activities, and raffles.
“The two organizations will be working together to bring Hokie Fans together for
family-friendly fun with proceeds going to help those affected by the tragic earthquake in Haiti,” said Sue Drzal, the administrative director for Downtown Blacksburg, Inc.
The First Annual Ut Prosim Tailgate will immediately follow the Spring Game on
Saturday, April 24, and is open to the entire community. The event is going to take
place between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in Market Square Park downtown. The Main
Street Inn, the Student Government Association and the Virginia Tech Student Alumni
Association are sponsoring this event.
According to organizers, “The primary objective is to raise money and awareness
for Haiti. However, the affair will also facilitate interaction between students, faculty, athletes, alumni, and local residents, groups and merchants.”
The tailgate for Haiti will include a Spirit Rally which is featuring the Hightie
Tighties and the Hokie Bird. There are also a number of entertainment acts that have
volunteered their time for the event. Lianna Dossik and Sean Pennington, The Shack
Band, and Always Morning will take the stage to perform. The Iron Hokietron is
scheduled to make an appearance as well.
According to Chris Cooke, who is helping organize the tailgate, a number of
businesses have donated prizes toward a raffle and others are donating a percentage of their sales. Businesses such as Gourmet Pantry, Tuck Chiropractic, Fringe Benefit, Taco Bell and Matrix Gallery are a few among the group that have donated prizes so far. A couple of the businesses that have agreed to donate a percentage of sales during the tailgate include Bud Fosters, Mad Dog and In Balance Yoga.
The event is open to the entire community, so there will be a variety of family
activities and games for all ages to participate in. According to Cooke, VT Greek Life will be in charge of these events. A wine and beer garden will be included at the tailgate as well.
“There will be education/awareness booths run by Bridges to Prosperity at Virginia Tech, Hens for Haiti, the Cranwell Center at Virginia Tech, Oxfam at Virginia Tech, Engineers Without Borders and more,” Cooke said.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Interviewing Matthew T. Groff
It was an honor and pleasure to interview Virginia Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue member Matthew T. Groff. He was able to provide an inside look behind the team's latest rescue mission to Haiti. I am excited to post the interview on here after it is edited. These guys truly have such a unique career. It is certainly not for the average person, but someone that is extremely compassionate and dedicated to putting others first.
Monday, February 22, 2010
That I May Serve- Hokies Helping Haiti
Virginia Tech is known for our sense of community and service. After all, our motto is "Ut Prosim." So when disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti occur, it is second nature to lend a helping hand. The Hokie Nation has really proved once again that we can serve others when in need.
Even before the earthquake, Hokies that are a part of the Catholic Campus Ministry had planned an alternative spring break to Haiti. The trip has since been canceled because of the earthquake, but all the money raised for the trip as well as additional collections during services are being donated to the country.
Chris Cooke,a fellow Hokie, assisted Hokies United in creating a Face Book page to raise awareness for donating money to Haiti. They are working with Partners in Health which is an organization that has been doing relief work in Haiti for 25 years. So far, Hokies United has raised over $10,000 which Partners in Health is putting towards relief efforts. To donate please visit the Partners in Health for Hokies United website. http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/HokiesUnited
Phi Beta Delta collaborated with Hokies United to host a panel to discuss "the road to recovery" for Haiti. The event was free and held at the Graduate Life Center Auditorium. The event included speakers sharing their first-hand experiences in Haiti.
Hokies United has also designed a t-shirt to raise money for Haiti. The t-shirts are red and blue which are the colors of the Haitian flag. On the front of the t-shirt there is an outline of the country and the words "Hokies Helping Haiti." "Hokies United" and "Together We Stand, Together We Serve" can be found on the back. The shirts are on sale for just $10 and are for a great cause. I already have mine, get yours today. http://www.bookstore.vt.edu/ePOS?store=1&item_number=2639&form=shared3%2Fgm%2Fdetail.html&design=vt#
These are just a few of the ways Virginia Tech has been able to help. Hokies all over have stepped in and demonstrated our motto, "That I May Serve." The relief for Haiti has only just begun, and so has Hokies Helping Haiti.
Even before the earthquake, Hokies that are a part of the Catholic Campus Ministry had planned an alternative spring break to Haiti. The trip has since been canceled because of the earthquake, but all the money raised for the trip as well as additional collections during services are being donated to the country.
Chris Cooke,a fellow Hokie, assisted Hokies United in creating a Face Book page to raise awareness for donating money to Haiti. They are working with Partners in Health which is an organization that has been doing relief work in Haiti for 25 years. So far, Hokies United has raised over $10,000 which Partners in Health is putting towards relief efforts. To donate please visit the Partners in Health for Hokies United website. http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/HokiesUnited
Phi Beta Delta collaborated with Hokies United to host a panel to discuss "the road to recovery" for Haiti. The event was free and held at the Graduate Life Center Auditorium. The event included speakers sharing their first-hand experiences in Haiti.
Hokies United has also designed a t-shirt to raise money for Haiti. The t-shirts are red and blue which are the colors of the Haitian flag. On the front of the t-shirt there is an outline of the country and the words "Hokies Helping Haiti." "Hokies United" and "Together We Stand, Together We Serve" can be found on the back. The shirts are on sale for just $10 and are for a great cause. I already have mine, get yours today. http://www.bookstore.vt.edu/ePOS?store=1&item_number=2639&form=shared3%2Fgm%2Fdetail.html&design=vt#
These are just a few of the ways Virginia Tech has been able to help. Hokies all over have stepped in and demonstrated our motto, "That I May Serve." The relief for Haiti has only just begun, and so has Hokies Helping Haiti.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
"A Hero's Homecoming"
I am pleased to report that all one hundred and fourteen members, and their canines, arrived home safely this past Thursday. Usually, only seventy members are deployed at a time, but in a crisis such as this one they sent as many as they could. The Task Force flew into Dulles International Airport, where they were greeted by officials and a water arch on the runway. The team loaded onto three buses and was escorted by police to their training center. There, family members of the team impatiently waited for “our guys” to arrive.
This is the first mission that I have been unable to welcome the team home, so I have been watching the media coverage from Blacksburg. After speaking with my family members, I have been told that the cameras could not capture the size or energy of how great the homecoming really was. It is a relief to have the Task Force home, but I know that they would all return in an instant if needed. The media has been referring to the team members as "heroes," but they just see themselves as doing what anyone would, helping out when others are in need.
My objective with this blog is to discuss several topics regarding the earth quake in Haiti. Virginia Task Force One was the last of our American teams to leave Haiti. One of my goals is to really bring attention to Haiti now that our teams are home and it is beginning to fade out of the media. Everyone is so involved when a disaster first happens, but as soon as the media decides that it is not "current" news anymore, less people pay attention. Relief in Haiti has just begun, even though Anderson Cooper and his team are home.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid30317508001?bctid=63910463001
This is the first mission that I have been unable to welcome the team home, so I have been watching the media coverage from Blacksburg. After speaking with my family members, I have been told that the cameras could not capture the size or energy of how great the homecoming really was. It is a relief to have the Task Force home, but I know that they would all return in an instant if needed. The media has been referring to the team members as "heroes," but they just see themselves as doing what anyone would, helping out when others are in need.
My objective with this blog is to discuss several topics regarding the earth quake in Haiti. Virginia Task Force One was the last of our American teams to leave Haiti. One of my goals is to really bring attention to Haiti now that our teams are home and it is beginning to fade out of the media. Everyone is so involved when a disaster first happens, but as soon as the media decides that it is not "current" news anymore, less people pay attention. Relief in Haiti has just begun, even though Anderson Cooper and his team are home.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid30317508001?bctid=63910463001
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Following Haiti
For the past week and a half I've been glued to CNN watching Cooper Anderson report on the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. My Dad is on the Virginia Task Force One Urban Search and Rescue team, which is currently down in Haiti. His team is the first to be deployed for natural disasters such as this one. I've spent all my free time following the team's progress and hoping that they not only have great success in their mission, but stay safe themselves. For me it's hard to watch anything but the news because I am directly connected to what is going on in Haiti right now. My Dad has gone on several other missions, but this one seems to be the most disastrous.
I found that this mission is also relevant to Media Writing because of the technology involved. We discussed in class that people want the news and information as soon as it happens. In a crisis such as Haiti, it is important to be able to get the news out fast and have it be correct. Technology has played an important part in this mission because it is the first time that we, the families, are able to send email directly to the team. Although they cannot write back, it is great that we can send them a quick hello to keep their spirits high. Another great outlet this mission has been Face Book. The family support group has created a page to keep all the families connected. They also update the page through out the day with pictures, links, and information on what the team is doing that day. It's great to have all of this and be able to follow the mission and have information as it happens. It is comforting to know that the information is correct because it is coming directly from the source, the team.
I found that this mission is also relevant to Media Writing because of the technology involved. We discussed in class that people want the news and information as soon as it happens. In a crisis such as Haiti, it is important to be able to get the news out fast and have it be correct. Technology has played an important part in this mission because it is the first time that we, the families, are able to send email directly to the team. Although they cannot write back, it is great that we can send them a quick hello to keep their spirits high. Another great outlet this mission has been Face Book. The family support group has created a page to keep all the families connected. They also update the page through out the day with pictures, links, and information on what the team is doing that day. It's great to have all of this and be able to follow the mission and have information as it happens. It is comforting to know that the information is correct because it is coming directly from the source, the team.
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