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International students approached Dr. Graham
Spanier, President of Pennsylvania State
University, to inquire information about post
tsunami activities by Penn State. Dr.
Spanier suggested that the students contact
International Student Programs and Centre County
United Way.
The
first week of January 2005, Dr. Lewis Jillings
of International Programs, Ms. Ellie Beaver of
United Way, and Dr. U.B. Bakker a retired
professor from Penn State, 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.
Dr. Bakker was
responsible for recruiting and establishing a
leadership team, youth leadership (action) team,
and international advisory council. After
gathering volunteers, a meeting was held on
January 17, 2005. At this meeting the
community leaders, in partnership with
Pennsylvania State University, met collectively
for the purpose of expressing concerns and
discussing relief plans for those affected by
the tsunami.
TGIP created three subgroups responsible for
developing project ideas and deciding the
feasibility of these ideas. If the ideas
are feasible, the groups then carry out the
relief efforts.
In order to implement the projects, TGIP
leadership agreed to explore various community
leaders and resources to provide assistance.
One of those projects required immediately
resources. Thus, TGIP held their first
community information and fundraiser session on
February 5, 2005, which was co-sponsored by
State College Area School District (SCASD),
Pilato Studios and Gallery, and Teamsters Union
Local 8. For this fundraiser, Mr. Pilato
donated several of his limited edition prints
and personally attended the event to promote it.
TGIP's goals are stated below, but include
creating awareness of the tsunami destruction
with the Penn State community and supporting
victims and their homelands.
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