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Initial
Planning Meeting for Tsunami
Relief
The
first week of January 2005,
Dr. Lewis Jillings of
International Programs, Ms.
Elle Beaver of United Way,
and Dr. U.B. Bakker a former
Penn State professor, were
involved in a number of
meetings, which led to the
division of responsibilities
for establishing an
initiative called Town &
Gown International
Partnerships (TGIP).
Dr. Bakker agreed to serve
as founding chair while Dr.
Jillings and Ms. Beaver
accepted responsibilities to
serve as founding co-chairs.
January
17
Remember
& Reach-out Day
Local
leaders from the State
College community have
united to launch an
immediate initiative in
partnership with the Penn
State University in response
to the tsunami disaster in
Asia and Africa. The Town
& Gown International
Partnership (TGIP) held its
first official gathering
Monday, January 17, 2005 at
the India Pavilion, in State
College. This was a
significant event
representing our local
community partnership
efforts to support the US
Presidents’ initiative for
national relief for tsunami
victims. The TGIP members,
both campus and community,
are in agreement to organize
sustainable and long-term
relief projects for the
affected nations.
Representatives from
some of the affected nations
were available for sharing
their close encounters with
the tsunami destruction.
Channel
6 NBC, Channel 10 CBS, The
Centre Daily Times, and The
Daily Collegian covered this
event.
Complimentary
refreshment and local foods
from tsunami region was
provided. Remember and
Reach-out Day (RRD) was
hosted by the TGIP along
with co-sponsors India
Pavilion and the Salvation
Army.
Among
the speakers were State
Representative Lynn Herman,
State College Mayor Bill
Welch, State College Area
School District
Superintendent Dr. Patrica
Best, Ms. Ellie Beaver of
the United Way, and Dr. Lew
Jillings, Vice Provost of
International Programs at
Penn State University.
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