News Release
____________________________________________________________
September 1, 2005
How You Can Help The Victims Of Hurricane Katrina
Boise State is encouraging its students, faculty, staff,
alumni and supporters to assist in the relief efforts for victims of
Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast. The university is
opening its doors to immediately assist any students whose planned studies
this fall have been postponed by the effects of the hurricane. Inquiries
will be handled on a case-by-case instance to best help the students in
need. Late admission fees will be waived and campus housing is available.
Interested students should contact Boise State’s Admissions Office at (208)
426-1820 or toll free at 1-800-824-7017. Displaced faculty, who are looking
for possible office, laboratory and housing space, should contact the Office
of the Provost at (208) 426-1202.
“With the tragic devastation that has taken place due to the hurricane,
Boise State University is offering assistance to the victims through
donations to the relief organizations and educational opportunities for the
displaced students,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “We intend to
reach out and help any way we can in this very difficult time.”
SEEKING DONATIONS AT SEPT. 21 FOOTBALL GAME
Boise State University hopes to raise $150,000 in donations for the victims
of Hurricane Katrina before and during its home opening football game on
Sept. 21 against Bowling Green. Proceeds will go to the American Red Cross’
Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. The goal, said athletic director Gene
Bleymaier, is to average a $5 donation from each of the approximately 30,000
fans expected to attend the game that evening.
Fans entering Bronco Stadium will find donation containers at each entrance;
Boise State student and employee volunteers will be stationed at each
container. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. Those
who plan to make donations by check should make their check out to the
American Red Cross. They are also encouraged to have the checks written out
when they arrive at the game.
The university will also have a single container in the Williams Plaza on
the southwest corner of the stadium beginning at 3 p.m. In addition, Boise
State volunteers will be handing out hurricane relief buttons to fans
entering the stadium.
Ongoing donations are also be collected via containers at the Student Union
Building.
FINANCIAL HELP FOR STUDENTS
Across the nation, people are giving generously to the American Red Cross
and other non-profit relief organizations. Many higher education
institutions have opened their doors to displaced students as well. The real
unmet need at this point is financial help to students who have lost
virtually everything. Working with the University of Louisiana System and
the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, the American Association of
State Colleges and Universities is establishing a Disaster Relief Fund to
benefit students at those institutions severely impacted.
Financial donations will be received from individuals, organizations and
institutions, and all donations will be distributed through the respective
systems to students in need. All entities have 501(c)(3) status so that
personal donations will be tax deductible and acknowledged by the AASCU.
Site-specific donations will be honored as well. Checks should be made out
to AASCU/Student Relief Fund, AACSU/University of Louisiana System
Foundation, AASCU/Mississippi Resource Development Corporation, or to AASCU/(name
of selected institution).
The mailing address is: AASCU, 1307 New York Avenue NW, Fifth Floor,
Washington, D.C., 20005-4701. For more information, contact Constantine
Curris at currisc@aascu.org or (202)
478-4647.
EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS
Employees can sign up for payroll deduction by visiting the Human Resources
Web site at http://hrs.boisestate.edu.
Click through to Payroll, Payroll Deductions, and scroll to the Disaster
Relief Effort Form. Complete this form and forward this to Payroll to
authorize funds to go to the American Red Cross.
Some employees have requested that their 1 percent temporary salary increase
be sent directly to the American Red Cross. Unfortunately, the 1 percent TSI
I considered compensation and, therefore, according to IRS regulations, it
is considered taxable income and cannot be directly donated by the
University. On the Oct. 7 paychecks, the temporary 1 percent increase amount
will be identified separately from the regular paycheck. Employees then may
write a check to the American Red Cross to donate this increase or any
desirable amount. The local American Red Cross address is: 404 S. 8th
Street, Suite 232, Boise, ID 83702
Employees who want to donate to assistance efforts can double their
donations through Albertsons or the Washington International Group. Each
company is matching donations, up to a total of $1 million each.
WOMEN’S CENTER
The Organization for Gender Equality and Education (OGEE) is raising funds
to benefit the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Hurricane Fund
after losing four domestic violence shelters and two non-residential program
offices to Hurricane Katrina. Donations are being collected by the Boise
State Women’s Center at events throughout the year or in the center.
The Single Parents Club along with the Idaho Progressive Student Alliance is
collecting items for a “Diaper Drive” to assist parents with small children
who have been displaced from their homes due to the storm. All donations
will be sent to Feed the Children, assisting the hurricane survivors. Items
needed include: new, packaged diapers, all sizes; liquid formula; baby food
in sealed, plastic containers. Donations should be dropped off at the
Women’s Center across the street from the Student Union Building (1700
University Drive).
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL ON FRIDAY AND DONATIONS
The Volunteer Services Board will sponsor a candlelight vigil at 9 p.m.
outside the Student Union Building at Boise State on Friday. Sept. 9. The
entire community is welcome. Please bring your own candles, if you have
them; otherwise, they will be provided. The VSB will accept donations of
canned food and clean clothes through Sept. 19 in its office in the Student
Union Building. After Sept. 19, all donations will be sent to the Mountain
Home Air Force Base and shipped to the hurricane victims.
TULANE STUDENTS ENROLL AT BOISE STATE
Adrianne Crozier was soon supposed to begin her senior year at Tulane
University in New Orleans. Instead, the Boise native will finish out her
year at Boise State. Crozier, a Bishop Kelly graduate, is one of two senior
Tulane students who have enrolled at Boise State in the past week. Crozier
said that when she saw the devastation caused by the hurricane last week,
she knew that she would not be back for classes in New Orleans any time
soon. Her enrollment is one part of the effort that the Boise State
community has put forth to provide special assistance.
Additionally, here is contact information on two relief organizations and general tips for giving.
Red Cross
1-800-HELP-NOW
www.redcross.org
Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY
www.salvationarmyusa.org
|
The Office of Communications and Marketing
-
Boise State University
1910 University Drive -
Education Building, #726 -
Boise Idaho 83725-1030
208-426-1577
(fax)208-426-4001
email newservices@boisestate.edu
Last reviewed on Thursday, December 22, 2005