NCAA News Archive - 2010

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NCAA contributes $300,000 to relief effort in Haiti

Feb 11, 2010 8:47:08 AM

The NCAA News

The NCAA has announced a $300,000 gift to UNICEF to help with that organization's relief efforts in Haiti.

The Association's contribution, authorized by the NCAA Executive Committee, will go toward UNICEF's clean-water and sanitation efforts and help the organization vaccinate hundreds of thousands of children.

NCAA Interim President Jim Isch said the NCAA chose UNICEF for its established, respected and successful track record in focusing on youth and family needs.

"There are hundreds of national and international agencies doing great work," Isch said. "However, based on feedback related to how organized and professional UNICEF operates, we chose UNICEF as the appropriate crisis agency for the Association to be affiliated with at this time."

Currently, UNICEF is focusing on providing for the immediate needs of young survivors of the January 12 earthquake, including clean water and sanitation, therapeutic food for infants and small children, medical supplies and temporary shelter.

Nearly half of all Haitians are under 18 years of age, and almost 40 percent are under 14. UNICEF is coordinating with the Haitian government, Save the Children and the Red Cross by establishing safe spaces for separated children and providing food and supplies for orphanages in Port-Au-Prince.

UNICEF Midwest Region Director Casey Marsh praised the NCAA for its gift that will help return Haitian children to "a sense of normalcy" through education and recreation kits filled with school and sports supplies that UNICEF provides in emergency situations.

"Because of donors like the NCAA investing in the work of UNICEF, there is tremendous hope for the children of Haiti," Marsh said. "In addition to assisting with the short-term emergency-relief efforts, I want to thank the NCAA for having the foresight to provide assistance for UNICEF's longer-term rebuilding efforts in Haiti."

The gift on behalf of the Association also supplements the donations raised and contributions already made from dozens of its member institutions to various relief organizations.

Following are just a few of the schools that have contributed in their own ways:

Elon (baseball)

Elon (golf)