International students who attend Concord University are organizing a fundraising drive to help victims of the earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25.
“Concord’s faculty, staff, and students have joined together to provide support and help for our students and faculty from Nepal,” Concord President Dr. Kendra Boggess said. “Our campus community has organized a fundraising effort to assist the people of Nepal at this most difficult time.
“One faculty member and several students from Nepal work or attend classes at Concord and we are working to meet their immediate needs in this time of tragic loss,” she said.
“Concord University has a deep-rooted connection with Nepal,” Director of Multicultural Affairs Nancy Ellison said. “We have had many exceptional students from Nepal and we have a professor and director of entrepreneur studies, Dr. Mohan Pokharel, who is also from Nepal.”
Concord junior and computer science major, Dhiraj Ranjit, said, “Nepal was hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on Saturday, April 25 2015, leaving thousands dead. Although rescue efforts are underway, repeated aftershocks and continuous rainfall have made attempts to help victims difficult. Thousands of people whose houses have been destroyed are living outside with no proper access to shelter, food and drinking water. There are thousands of people including my family who have lost their loved ones. So I request everyone to support us and support Nepal in this time of crisis.”
“The country needs all of the resources it can obtain to reconstruct amidst one of its darkest periods,” Dr. Pokharel said. “In a heartening collective effort, many countries and organizations have come together to help Nepal, but the recovery process will be an arduous one. The mounting death toll and painfully obvious paucity of available aid have dampened the resolve of victims. Please contribute with whatever you can to bolster the recovery and renew the optimism of a nation crestfallen by this disaster. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.”
The funds raised will be donated entirely to UNICEF. UNICEF meets the BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance’s Standards for Charity Accountability. Charity Navigator awarded the U.S. Fund for UNICEF the highest financial standards for charities. Out of every dollar spent, 90.2 cents goes toward helping children.
International students will be accepting donations for Nepal relief on the Athens campus Monday, May 4 through Friday, May 8. The event will take place on the ground floor of the Student Center, in front of the Bookstore from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.
Those wishing to make a donation online can go to this link (http://www.concord.edu/node/4044) to make a donation by credit card. Checks can be made payable to the Concord University Foundation, Inc. Please note Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund on the memo line of your check. Mail your check to Concord University Foundation, P.O. Box 1405, Athens, WV 24712.
A candlelight vigil to honor and remember those affected by the earthquake in Nepal will be held Tuesday, May 5 at Concord University. The vigil will begin at 9 p.m. in front of the Marsh Library on the Athens campus.
