Delight for university as appeal raises £10k
Thousands of pounds has been raised to help some of the most vulnerable members of the student community have a happy Christmas.
Staff and supporters of the University of Sunderland raised £10,220 for the We Care at Christmas appeal after setting an initial target of £2,000.
They were supported by the Rotary Club of Sunderland with a £2,000 donation as well as £5,000 from entrepreneur and philanthropist Helen McArdle CBE.
Volunteers are now working to ensure that more than 160 care experienced and estranged students and their families will have a Christmas they will never forget.
The appeal has received a further boost from the Hartlepool Giving Tree appeal, which has donated toys and games to the 27 children of the students.
Following their successful appeal – which generated more than 100,000 donations – the Hartlepool Giving Tree is reaching out to charities UKwide with donations of toys and gifts.
Wendy Price, head of Widening Access and Participation at the University and who leads the We Care team, said: “With support from our colleagues and wider university community, I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to raise more than £10,200 for the We
Care at Christmas Campaign.
"I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to every person who donated to this campaign.
"I ’d pa rt ic u l a rl y l i ke to thank our friends at the Rotary Club Sunderland, Helen McArdle CBE and the Hartlepool Giving Tree for their extremely generous donations.
"This will make such a difference to our students and act as an important reminder to them that they are such a valued part of our university community.”