2008 Woodie Awards
Club changes lives one heart at a time
Badger Hearts accepting donations through April
Chelsea Simpson
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Front Page
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In 2004, students and staff members created a unique and inspiring club called Badger Hearts. The club focuses on community service and helping others.
The motto of Badger Hearts is "Impacting the community one heart at a time."
One of the largest projects the club sponsors is the Hope Chest, which helps a group of people called the Aging Out Fosters of the Texas Panhandle.
Each year, a certain number of foster children turns 18, and so they have to move out on their own. Badger Hearts created the Hope Chest to help make that transition a little easier on those foster children.
"Our first Hope Chest project in the spring of 2004 was a dream of mine," said Tricia Stevens, Badger Hearts sponsor.
"When Renea Fike, our former dean of student advancement, got involved and spoke to the AC students about the Hope Chest, several individual students and SGA got involved and the program took off from there."
The club works with Child Protective Services to calculate how many foster children will be aging out each year.
Last year, the club planned for 13 teenagers, but there normally is someone who comes into the program late.
This year the club has 18 teens and is planning for 19 just in case. At the end of the year, the Hope Chests are given to them.
"To sponsor one child, it costs from around $450 to $500," said RoseMaire Hagadus, Badger Hearts club president.
The Badger Hearts club meets at 1 p.m. each Wednesday in 020 Lynn Library. Members wear their club shirts so students can be aware of the organization and know who they are.
About 20 to 30 people are active members of the club. Students can join by attending a meeting and signing up.
"Students have to be enrolled in at least six hours, and there is no age limit," Hagadus said.
Requirements to join the organization are few.
"Students must keep a grade point of 2.0 and must enjoy helping others - that's all," Stevens said.
The motto of Badger Hearts is "Impacting the community one heart at a time."
One of the largest projects the club sponsors is the Hope Chest, which helps a group of people called the Aging Out Fosters of the Texas Panhandle.
Each year, a certain number of foster children turns 18, and so they have to move out on their own. Badger Hearts created the Hope Chest to help make that transition a little easier on those foster children.
"Our first Hope Chest project in the spring of 2004 was a dream of mine," said Tricia Stevens, Badger Hearts sponsor.
"When Renea Fike, our former dean of student advancement, got involved and spoke to the AC students about the Hope Chest, several individual students and SGA got involved and the program took off from there."
The club works with Child Protective Services to calculate how many foster children will be aging out each year.
Last year, the club planned for 13 teenagers, but there normally is someone who comes into the program late.
This year the club has 18 teens and is planning for 19 just in case. At the end of the year, the Hope Chests are given to them.
"To sponsor one child, it costs from around $450 to $500," said RoseMaire Hagadus, Badger Hearts club president.
The Badger Hearts club meets at 1 p.m. each Wednesday in 020 Lynn Library. Members wear their club shirts so students can be aware of the organization and know who they are.
About 20 to 30 people are active members of the club. Students can join by attending a meeting and signing up.
"Students have to be enrolled in at least six hours, and there is no age limit," Hagadus said.
Requirements to join the organization are few.
"Students must keep a grade point of 2.0 and must enjoy helping others - that's all," Stevens said.
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