Campus News

Paws for a cause

Paws for a cause
Admissions staff member Carey Clinton (left) accepts donations from Michelle Tabb

New community service project benefits county’s elementary schoolchildren

Children enrolled in Coile Middle School and each of the 14 elementary schools in the Clarke County School District received school supply donations from Paws for a Cause, a new community service project sponsored by UGA’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Donations from incoming first-year students at UGA summer orientation sessions and prospective students at Explore Georgia campus visitation events produced two large tubs of supplies for each school that were delivered in early August.

The school supply contribution totals included 141 boxes of crayons, 390 spiral notebooks, 4,231 pencils, 271 folders and more.

“The university’s motto, ‘To teach, to serve and to inquire into the nature of things,’ inspired the idea for the service project,” said Milly Legra, associate director of admissions and director of new student orientation, who was looking for ways to expand the summer orientation program.

In collaboration with the Clarke County School District, Legra and orientation staff members Lydia Ghattas and Tino Johnson obtained school supply lists and profiles of the recipient schools. The admissions staff set up a Web site and designed a logo to promote the service project. Facebook Group and Twitter accounts gave daily updates on the project.

A Paws for a Cause kiosk was also set up in the UGA Bookstore during the orientations sessions.

“We are so pleased with the results and the enthusiastic response of the students and families who participated,” said Nancy McDuff, associate vice president for admissions and enrollment management.”

“Paws for a Cause goes a long way in helping provide school supplies to several Clarke County schools,” added Anisa Sullivan Jimenez, director of public relations and communications for the Clarke County School District. “We are very appreciative of both the generosity and the support