KUA Community Rallies to Help Haiti - Update

2/10/2010

 On Thursday, February 11, 2010 over 350 Kimball Union students and faculty members participatd in a fund-raising “Hike for Haiti.” The school community has raised over $26,000 to date in online donations, pledges, and cash donations which will all go towards Partners In Health’s Haiti relief efforts.

 

Thursday was set aside for the entire school to participate in this day of service. The day began with a brunch, followed by an All School Meeting in the Flickinger Auditorium. Certainly a highlight of the meeting was when faculty member and Kimball Union alumni, Ben Sheehan, made good on his challenge to the community to raise $10,000 and had his hair “buzzed” on stage.  At 11:30 am hikers w set off on a trek that took them through the back roads of Meriden and Cornish. The day culminate dwith a festive dinner, and dance in the Campus Center.

 

Hike for Haiti is just one in a series of fundraisers KUA has planned or completed. Earlier in the year, a “dress down day” which permitted participants to put aside KUA’s dress code for the day raised almost $1,000.00. The school is participating in “The Green Cup Challenge” a national student-driven, interschool climate challenge that supports student efforts to measure and reduce campus electricity use and related greenhouse gas emissions, and to encourage water efficiency, waste reduction, and recycling during the month of February. Kimball Union will provide a matching-gift to Partners in Health in the amount of the energy-savings during the challenge.

 

On Friday, February 12, a student-run Coffee House, KAFE HAITi, fund-raiser raised over $1400. KUA’s hockey team members and coaches  pledged to donate $2 per goal scored during home games and have raised $2,346. And the swim team has a swim-a-thon planned.

 

Shortly after the earthquake struck, the Penny Fellowship program, the Academy's service program,  donated $1,000 for earthquake relief as well.

 

“I am really proud of how the school community has come together to help to provide relief to the people of Haiti,” said Head of School Mike Schafer. “We are grateful to all of our families and friends who have joined us to support this important effort.”

 

Making good on his challenge to raise $20,000, Assistant Head of School Joe Williams followed in Ben Sheehan's footsteps, and had his head shaved at All School Meeting on February 18. Who will be next?!

Channel 3 WCAX was on hand to cover the Hike for Haiti (and Ben Sheehan '00's haircut.) View the news clip here

Be sure to check the photos at right.