News & Events
"Gift Cards" help children living with HIV/AIDS
From left:Sandra Scriven, director of student activities, President Fred Beaufait, Professor Francisco Betancourt
The Gifts for Special Children project was started fifteen years ago by Professor Francisco Betancourt, now chair of the Hospitality Management department. The project originally collected new, unwrapped gifts for children living with HIV/AIDS. Today, the project has expanded far beyond its original activities. It raises funds to support libraries and other facilities for these children and honors those who have provided comfort to children living with HIV/AIDS and members of the local community who have advanced the fight against the disease. Ably helped by faculty and students from his own department, and by faculty, staff and students across the campus, Professor Betancourt continues to chair this important activity.
Three years ago, Sandra Scriven, director of student activities, began the "Gift Card" portion of the project. Using an idea borrowed from the March of Dimes, Scriven worked with Alison Burnham, a student in the Advertising Design and Graphic Arts department, to apply this idea to the Gifts for Special Children project. Together, they began to create "cards" that could be purchased and then publicly displayed, with all funds going to support the Gifts project.
Gift Card designer Mo Wong with Sandra Scriven and Francisco Betancourt
Cards are purchased for a minimum donation of $1, are signed and then are put on display in the ground floor Atrium Lounge of the college to show support for the Gifts project. Last year, the cards brought in $775, with every nickel donated to benefit children living with HIV/AIDS. This year's card was designed by Mo Wong, a baccalaureate student in Communication Design. Three thousand cards were produced without charge by Alvin J. Bart and Sons, along with Bill Splain, an extremely kind donation in support of the children supported by the Gifts project.
The top picture shows President Fred Beaufait kicking off this year's Gifts for Special Children campaign by buying the first card. Until December 13, gift cards can be purchased on the first floor Namm lobby (adjacent to the Information Services desk), in the Student Activities office, in room 601 of the General Building, or at the City Tech Foundation Auction on the evening of December 6. What an easy way to show your support for children living with HIV/AIDS!
