Christina Smith
Daily Egyptian
Two SIUC students presented the Women's Center with a check for $600 from a fundraising golf outing.
Physician assistant students Julie Lampley and Rachael Cunnick
represented the Physician's Assistant student organization at Lindgren
Hall on July 27 and presented the check.
Women's Center employees who received the check include executive
director Camille Davis, development specialist Iva Dell Clay and
adolescent sexual assault counselor Pattie Kortkamp.
The money raised from the golf scramble usually goes to the Physician
Assistant student organization's fund, said Julie Lampley, a
physician's assistant student from Thompsonville.
The fund is used for educational opportunities for students to attend
meetings and conferences throughout the year, said Rachael Cunnick, a
physician assistant student from Carbondale.
This is the first year the organization decided to give the money back
to the community, but it will now be a tradition, Lampley said.
Representatives from the Women's Center spoke to the Physician
Assistant student organization about what the center does for the
community. After hearing what services the center provides, the
students agreed to give the money to the center.
Students were taught how to identify people who are victims of
violence, the steps to take to help them and who to talk to at the
Women's Center to get support for them, Lampley said.
"Julie had a really great idea this year of having a raffle and making
that a fundraiser for the Women's shelter," Cunnick said.
Many of the students thought that the Women's Center was only a place
for women who have been raped to go to for help, but it is much more
than that, Lampley said.
"Even though it is called the Women's Center, they are going to
help children and men if they have a problem, the men just can't stay
there," Lampley said.
The golf scramble was on April 23 at Kokopelli Golf Course in Marion.
Each golf hole was sponsored by area businesses and prizes were donated
by area businesses for golfers, who participated in the event, Cunnick
said.
Prizes were collected from Carbondale and Southern Illinois area
businesses, Lampley said. Gift certificates, dinners throughout
Carbondale and Cardinals tickets were among some of the donated prizes.
Cunnick said Carbondale was supportive she hopes businesses are willing to give to the fundraiser next year.
Students sold 600 tickets at $1 each the week before the scramble and
all proceeds were given to the Women's Center, Lampley said.
The entire class of 2006 of physician assistant students was involved
in organizing the scramble and prizes for the raffle, faculty advisor
for the organization Cheri Kelly said.
"We are hoping that this is the start of more of a relationship with
the Women's Center and that we are able to get more involved with
helping them," Kelly said.
Reporter Christina Smith can be reached at
christina_smith@dailyegyptian.com.
