Southeastern College’s legacy of giving continues in 2020
December 17, 2020 / 4:17 pm / Pacific 54
Southeastern College has continued its tradition of giving this holiday season. Southeastern campuses throughout the Southeast took part in charity work meant to brighten the holidays for families throughout Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
The Miami Lakes campus of Southeastern College kicked off the holiday spirit by joining forces with Walmart and The Salvation Army, Miami area Command, to take part in the Angel Tree program. Created in 1979, The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program provides new clothing and toys to more than one million children and families in need each year.
“I am very proud of our faculty and staff for their dedication to our community during this difficult time,” said Julia Corona, Southeastern College Miami Lakes campus president. “Although we are in the middle of a pandemic, our faculty and staff kept our tradition alive.”
Faculty and staff at the Miami Lakes campus donated gifts for 10 children ranging in age from 10 months to 10 years old. In total, the campus donated more than 20 gifts. This is the 11th consecutive year Southeastern College Miami Lakes has taken part in the Angel Tree program.
Southeastern College Columbia faculty and staff participated in Families Helping Families 2020 which is meant to ease the burden of thousands of families in need by providing gifts, clothing, food, and other essentials. Families Helping Families is hosted by WIS News 10 in Columbia, S.C. The fundraiser has been in existence for 29 years. This year’s goal was to help 2,600 families across the Columbia area.
This is the fourth consecutive year Southeastern College Columbia has participated in Families Helping Families. Faculty and staff from the Columbia campus donated more than $900 in gifts to be distributed to a family of six along with two seniors. The campus added some extra flair by festively wrapping all the gifts.
“We are blessed to have the opportunity to help others when so many are without during this pandemic,” said Janet Clark, Southeastern College Columbia campus president. “Bringing joy to others is the best gift that we can give.”
Southeastern College’s Charlotte campus designed and hosted their own giving tree project to assist current students who may be experiencing hardships. Faculty, staff, and students anonymously donated new gifts for the children of Southeastern students.
“During these challenging times, Southeastern College Charlotte continued its tradition of a giving tree and was able to meet all the requests to ensure our students in need, and their families, have a wonderful holiday,” said Kris Loretz, Southeastern College Charlotte campus president. “It’s all part of our #SoutheasternServes commitment.
#SoutheasternServes is the school’s call to action to make a continued impact throughout the communities they serve. It’s a critical part of Southeastern’s mission, which encompasses holiday giving and other charitable, philanthropic, and altruistic endeavors. The effort involves finding traditional and unique ways to give back to less fortunate and underserved populations.
“Southeastern College is dedicated to serving people in the communities where our campuses reside,” said Robert Keiser, Executive Director of Southeastern College. “We believe it’s every post-secondary institution’s mandate to make their communities better places to live and work.”
For more information about The Salvation Army/Walmart Angel Tree program, visit: https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/walmart-angel-tree/.
For more information about Families Helping Families 2020, visit: https://www.wistv.com/2020/11/19/families-helping-families-goal-help-families-across-midlands/