Text Box: Kathleen Dobbins Student Senate President and Tony Mayle Lambda Pi Eta Chapter President present checks to Marlene Henderson (center) of the American Red Cross Muskingum Valley Chapter. Not available for the photo are Kimberly Beaudoin Good Intentions Group, Darnell Brown Information Technology Board Executive, and Rachel Krak Friends for Literacy Improvement.

 Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Students Present Hurricane Relief Checks

Zanesville, OH –Student leaders representing Ohio University-Zanesville student organizations teamed up for a month-long effort to raise funds to support those impacted by the recent hurricane disasters.  From collection jars, to a penny war and poker tournament the student groups came together to raise more than $3,000 for their effort.

The effort began with Omicron Alpha, OU-Zanesville’s chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the honor society of the National Communication Association placing collection jars around campus for students to make monetary donations. Then Darnell Brown of the Information Technology Board presented the idea of hosting a card tournament. With the leadership of Kathleen Dobbins, Student Senate president, students set up and volunteered at the “Chips for Charity” poker festival. 

Ohio University Alumni Darren and Jay Tigner, local owners of Burn & Turn LLC poker rentals, provided tables and training for OU-Zanesville students at a discount to help with the fund raising event.  Student organizations Good Intentions Group, Omicron Alpha, Friends for Literacy Improvement, Student Senate, and Information Technology Board hosted the festival along with the help of several faculty, staff and students.  Dobbins and the other student leaders garnered the support of Imlay Florist, Conn’s Potato Chips, Papa John’s Pizza, Kellogg Company and the Muskingum Area Poker Championship to make the event a success. 

In addition, Dobbins initiated a penny war with the other regional campuses of Ohio University. The competition involved students at all five regional campuses who collected pennies at their respective campuses, along with a $250 donation from each campus dean to the relief effort.  In total Ohio University’s five regional campuses collected $3200 for Hurricane Relief which was donated to each campuses local Red Cross Chapter. 

“Our goal was broad participation,” explains Dobbins. “We met our goal with a variety of activities from which students, staff and community could participate.” One of the more creative activities was the friendly photo contest, entitled “Pieces of Support.”  Photos were taken of random students’ favorite feature and the photo with the most donations was given a $5 gift certificate to Bath & Body Works.  The winner of the competition was Sean Ingram.

For more information on Ohio University-Zanesville Student Senate contact President Kathleen Dobbins at 588.1544.

Click here to return to PR Press Directory