Cincinnati Universities Stand United For Tsunami Relief

The combined efforts of Northern Kentucky University, the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University have raised $81,925.05 to help people devastated by the December tsunami in Africa and Asia.

The results of the campaign were announced Thursday evening by UC President Nancy L. Zimpher, Xavier President Fr. Mike Graham and NKU President James C. Votruba. At the announcement, students representing the three universities and the 12 countries affected by the tsunami held the flags of their home countries – Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Maldives, Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand.

The fund-raising campaign was launched on each campus on Jan. 11 and ran through Feb. 9. On Jan. 26, midway through the fund-raising campaign and one month after disaster struck across the Indian Ocean, the campuses of all three universities observed a simultaneous moment of silence in memory of the victims.

Fund-raising efforts across the three universities included competitive drives between residence halls, an international cuisine dinner, collections at sporting events, and a salsa dance.

Beneficiaries of the combined effort will include the American Red Cross, Jesuit Refugee Fund, Nurani Dunia Foundation, Lanka Academic, Association for India's Development, and the International Medical Health Organization.

For more information, contact:

Northern Kentucky University
Rick Meyers
(859) 572-6565
meyersr@nku.edu

Xavier University
Kelly Leon
(513) 745-3877
leon@xavier.edu

University of Cincinnati
Dawn Fuller
(513) 556-1823
dawn.fuller@uc.edu