The Green River Community College Foundation’s Veteran Educational Transition Fund got a $23,000 boost following the Rotary Club of Kent’s Dream Big Auction. That contribution adds to the $17,000 the club already donated this year to help the college’s veteran students attend school.
The club named Green River’s VET Fund as its funded item for the Dream Big Auction held at the ShoWare Center in Kent held April 27. During the funded item portion of the evening, guests donated nearly $25,000.
Additionally, the first $15,000 raised was matched by a Green River alumnus and former Kent Rotarian. More than 30 Green River staff and students attended and volunteered at the auction including donating homemade desserts for the Famous Dessert Dash.
Joshua Gerstman, development director at Green River, says that there are funding gaps for veterans.
“One funding gap is that education benefits are not paid when school is out of session, including extended breaks like summer and winter,” he said. “Receiving zero income during the breaks can mean the difference between paying rent or being homeless, paying a utility bill or going without heat, or moving forward with another class or dropping out.”
The Veterans Educational Transition (VET) Fund was created in 2011 to help student veterans make ends meet and keep them in school. In less than two years, the VET Fund has raised nearly $70,000.
LINKS:
Green River Community College: www.greenriver.edu
Kent Rotary: www.kentrotary.com
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