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Funds raised at dinner to benefit Iowa high school and local community

      Funds raised at a benefit dinner to be held at William Penn University on Tuesday, June 17 will be given to Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg and the city of Attica as both look to rebuild following devastating tornadoes occurring the end of May.
      William Penn’s Vice President for Advancement Steven C. Noah contacted Parkersburg city Mayor Bob Haylock to determine where the greatest need for help was in the town. Being an institution of higher education, Haylock suggested William Penn may want to consider raising funds for the high school.
      “The mayor indicated that the high school had been totally destroyed and while much of the damage was insured, in any type of public building or school building there are uninsured costs that can occur,” Noah said. “Institutions of private higher education such as William Penn depend upon the high schools of Iowa to provide students. We are, in fact, reaching out to one of those institutions that has a historic relationship with William Penn University in their time of need.”
      One of the relationships between William Penn University and Aplington-Parkersburg High School is 1972 Penn alumnus Ed Thomas, football coach at the high school who was also named “2005 NFL High School Football Coach of the Year.”
      The tornado struck prior to the final week of classes at Aplington Parkersburg, a school of approximately 240 students. Built in the 1960s, the building was destroyed and fall classes will take place in the middle school while the district implements plans for building a new high school.
      Hosted by William Penn University and Sodexho Campus Services, the benefit dinner will take place on Tuesday, June 17, from 5 – 7 p.m. in Dana M. Atkins Memorial Union on the William Penn campus. Tickets can be purchased at the door and will cost $5 each with an additional donation requested.
      The Union is located on the north end of campus along Highway 63/North Market Street. An elevator is available in the building for those who cannot climb stairs. A parking lot is available off Highway 63 next to the Union. To view a campus map please visit the university website www.wmpenn.edu and click “About Penn;” or for more information, contact Jennifer Jentz, public relations coordinator at (641) 673-1078 or email jentzj@wmpenn.edu.

Written By: admin
Date Posted: 6/11/2008
Number of Views: 288

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