Your Role in Community Action Month - Guest Column

Your Role in Community Action Month

                  In today’s economy, many people are being forced out of their homes and are unable to pay for the basic necessities we take for granted.  With May being National Community Action Month, you have the opportunity to give back to the organizations that help these people become more self-sufficient.  Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the impact these community action organizations have on their community.  Due to this lack of knowledge, people are unaware of these organizations’ pressing need for additional funding.

               Area IV Agency On Aging and Community Action Programs, for example, is a not-for-profit organization that provides community action services to the counties of Tippecanoe, White, Carroll, and Clinton.  One of the largest problems for our organization is that people misunderstand our source of funding. Because of this, they do not recognize the need for donations.  In a recent survey of 358 local community members, 13 percent believed that all funding was provided by federal and state agencies.  In that same survey, 45 percent believed that United Way funds Area IV Agency.  In truth, United Way does not fund Area IV Agency.  We actually receive 62 percent of our funding from federal agencies and 30 percent from state agencies.  The rest is provided by individual and corporate donations.        

               The lack of support through donations has been an ongoing struggle for us.  Most of the community members who financially support our organization have never needed our services.   This means that our potential supporters have not possibly heard of us or seen what we do.  In 2011, we had 10,231 clients served by our community action programs and 14,482 clients by our aging programs. Many of them, for example, have benefitted from Area IV through our Transitions and Money Management programs.   Programs such as these have a powerful impact on helping people move out of poverty. Currently, we have many volunteers who participate in these two programs and make a difference in the lives of people in need. Without the crucial funds community members provide, we cannot effectively improve the lives of many low-income homeless, disabled, or disadvantaged families in our communities.  

               Many of us have been affected by this economy, and it is important to recognize those who have been affected most.  This is why during National Community Action Month, we are asking everyone to step up and get involved. You can help by becoming a volunteer in our Money Management Program, or even assist in our child’s development process through our Head Start Preschool. Whether in time or money, regardless of the amount, you can still make a difference in the lives of all community members. 

Take The Challenge - Newspaper article

Take The Challenge

Over 1.5 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2012.  In Indiana alone, there will be over 35,000 new cases found. Throughout our lives, women have a 1 in 3 lifetime risk of developing cancer; for men, only 1 in 2.   With odds like these, it is easy to see that we need to do our part in the fight against cancer and where better to do that than right here at Purdue!

On Saturday, April 14^th the fifth annual Challenge 5K Run/Walk will be hosted by the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research.  (That’s right, Purdue has its very own research center dedicated to studying cancers and developing world-class treatments.) The Challenge will be held at Ross-Ade Stadium at 8:30 a.m. and will bring together Purdue students, athletes, faculty and community members in the fight against cancer. Now I’m sure some of you are thinking there is no way you are getting up at 8:30 on a Saturday to run, but no need to worry because you can still participate!  There is also an option to “sleep-in” for The Challenge, which means you will get all of the perks (t-shirt, goodie bag, and of course the feeling of doing something good) of participating without attending the race. 

If you sign up prior to April 2^nd, the participation cost is $20 for students and $25 for non-students, with one hundred percent of the proceeds going directly to cancer research at Purdue. Great news, race day is also Mom’s weekend for most Greek houses, so why not have your mom pay for both of you to run or walk in The Challenge! In total, The Challenge has raised over $175,000 for cancer research. Last year the race had over 1,800 participants and we are expecting over 2,000 to attend this year.

 As a campus organization, each Greek house has the opportunity to win the Cuonzo Martin Challenge Award by registering the highest percentage of participants of all organizations.  By signing up as a team, you can get your house’s name on a plaque at the center for cancer research and win a pizza party from Puccini’s Pizza!  So join the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research and honorary chairman Coach Danny Hope at The Challenge this year.

We have all been affected by cancer in one way or another, whether that is collectively through the Greek system or individually through family and friends.  While you are still here at Purdue, get involved in something that will make a difference in each and every one of our lives: Take The Challenge.

To find out more information about The Challenge and how to register, visit www.thepurduechallenge.com.

Megan McAllister- Kappa Alpha Theta

Megan is a senior studying public relations and rhetorical advocacy communication.  You can contact her at mmcallis@purdue.edu

The Challenge - Press Release

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.-- An expected 2,000 Purdue University students, athletes, alumnus, faculty and community members will participate in The Challenge 5K run/walk for cancer research on Apr. 14.

The Challenge, which is hosted by the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, will be held at Ross-Ade Stadium at 8:30 a.m.  Registration is $20 for students and $25 for non-students if you register by April 2. After that date registration fees are $25 and $30. All proceeds from the race will go toward the cancer research happening at Purdue.  

Since its creation in 2008, The Challenge has raised over $180,000 to help find a cure for cancer.  With the help of football head coach and Challenge spokesman Danny Hope, the race had over 1,800 participants in 2011. 

The fifth annual Challenge is open to all runners, walkers, and sleepers.  By “sleeping-in” for the race, participants will support and donate to the race without participating in the 5K run/walk.  Each participant will receive a goodie bag and t-shirt at registration, however no materials can be shipped.

By registering student organizations, groups have the chance to win the Cuonzo Martin Challenge Award for the largest percentage of members taking part in The Challenge.  The Coach Danny Hope Community Challenge Award gives community organizations this same opportunity. 

The Challenge is the only certified race in Tippecanoe County in which participants can use their official time for qualifying for other races. 

For more information on The Challenge and how to register, visit The Challenge website at www.thepurduechallenge.com.

The Purdue University Center for Cancer Research was founded in 1978 and is designated as a National Cancer Institute Basic Cancer Center.  The center studies cancer starting at the cellular level to discover how cancers develop, progress and respond to treatment.  With the help of its researchers, the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research finds ways to detect cancer faster and treat it more effectively.