Ben Franklin would be proud.
His university's students are no longer just saving for a rainy day. Instead, in an outpouring of generosity, they're giving their pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters to those affected by the tragedies in New York and Washington.
Since that infamous September Tuesday, Penn students have been searching for ways to help the victims and their families. With Greek coffeehouses and donation cups on Locust Walk, the student body has raised more than $9,000 since last Monday to benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
This most recent figure does not include totals from students who donated to the table at Houston Hall, or those who donated at their college houses.
Before last Monday, which marked the start of an official campus-wide donation effort, led by a local charity, Penn students had already donated around $15,000 through a sorority charity party, fraternity coffeehouse and donations at Houston Hall.
The campus-wide decision to aid in the relief efforts came from Change for Change, a charitable organization spearheaded by Undergraduate Assembly Chairwoman Dana Hork that raises money for community projects through the collection of loose change.
But these past two weeks have seen more than loose change. Wharton, usually the money-makers, became money-givers after raising $1,200 on Locust Walk for the relief efforts.
"Penn students can band together in crisis," Social Planning and Events Committee President Kevin Meyers said.
SPEC was one group who put their creativity to use with their charity. They took last year's Spring Fling T-shirts and once again sold them, this time for $1. Then at the No Place Like Penn Grill `n' Chill, SPEC sold spirit ribbons. The sales from the T-shirts and the ribbons brought in $400 for the Red Cross.
Some students took it upon themselves to raise money independent of a student group. A handful of students had a dinner party in their home and raised $400.
"It's amazing how groups that never worked together in the past are coming together to raise money for the same cause," Hork said.
"I hope students will think of Change for Change throughout the rest of the year when planning philanthropy events," she said. "There's an ongoing need even when we're not in a time of crisis."
College houses will turn in the money they collected next Monday. And this Friday marks the deadline for student groups to hand in their donations.
Hork anticipates the total will exceed $10,000 when all of the money is tallied. The UA plans to announce the official total during an Oct. 11 ceremony commemorating the attacks.
