Two checks totaling more than $33,000 were presented to the American Red Cross and South Carolina Cares at the USC Naval Reserve Center Oct. 4. The donations will go to aid survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
USC, in cooperation with the American Red Cross and South Carolina Cares, collected the money from football fans and members of the community before the start of the USC vs. Alabama game Sept. 17. Half of the money was given to the American Red Cross to be used for its local efforts, and half was given to South Carolina Cares, which helped coordinate the assistance efforts for Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.
“It was a collaborative effort with the Boy Scouts, student leaders on campus, and student athletes helping out,” said Michelle Schmitt, assistant athletics director/planning and special projects in USC’s Department of Athletics. “Everybody really worked together for this cause because they knew how important it was to support the survivors of Hurricane Katrina and now Hurricane Rita."
South Carolina Cares is a coalition of Midlands government, business, community, and religious leaders. The coalition has welcomed more than 1,600 evacuees displaced by the hurricanes.
The processing center for Katrina and Rita evacuees, located in the former Naval Reserve building on Pickens Street, will be open through the middle of October.
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Columbia Mayor Bob Coble, far right, applauds the fund-raising efforts of USC, the American Red Cross, and South Carolina Cares Oct. 4. South Carolina Cares Chairman Sam Tenenbaum, American Red Cross Chief Executive Officer Scott Salemme, USC employees, local Boy Scouts, and Red Cross volunteers were also on hand for the check presentations. 
