Thanks to the Lake Forest Park Rotary, veterans in financial need at Shoreline Community College now have a lot more resources available to help.
At the chapter’s Sneaker Ball, held March 1, 2014 at Inglewood Golf Club, attendees raised $13,000 in just seven minutes at the fund-raising dinner and auction.
“Our ‘raise-the-paddle’ event this honored our veterans who may be living with financial uncertainty,” Sally Renn, club president said. “To accomplish this goal, we are contributing funds to the Veterans Emergency Assistance Fund at the Shoreline Community College Foundation.”
Foundation President Mark McVeety said he was gratified at Rotary’s offer to help.
“This is how community works; identify needs and then come together to meet those needs,” McVeety said. “The college has a great Veterans Resource Center and terrific support, but some veterans need help that the college can’t provide. That’s where the Foundation comes in with programs like the emergency fund to help these men and women get the assistance they need when they need it.
Dean of Students Kim Thompson was overwhelmed by the response of the donors at the Sneaker Ball. Thompson oversees Shoreline’s veterans program and led the effort to secure a federal grant that established the Veterans Resource Center.
“This was just beyond my wildest dreams,” Thompson said. “We work closely with the college Foundation and this money will definitely make a difference for many veterans who trying to move on to the next phase of their lives.”
Shoreline Interim President Daryl Campbell attended the event and thanked Rotary and the many donors.
“Rotary and the college are foundational pieces of our community,” Campbell said. “By working together, we’re making that community a better place to live.”