A Tide of Hope - Meredith College Tsunami Relief Efforts
The Meredith College Community has committed to provide immediate and sustained aid to the victims of the recent Indian Ocean tsunami, over the next twelve months. Visit the links below to learn more about Meredith's relief efforts.
Sri Lanka Travelers to Share Their Stories
A Sri Lanka "Show and Tell" will take place in the lobby of the Cate Center on Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The group, which included nine students, traveled to Sri Lanka in July. They will be sharing stories, pictures and souvenirs from their study abroad experience. >read more
"Tide of Hope" Effort Reaches $100,000
Following the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Meredith College established "A Tide of Hope," a tsunami relief effort to support Sri Lanka's efforts to rebuild.
Since the effort began in January 2005, more than $100,000 has been raised. "Tide of Hope" committee chair Sam Carothers said the committee set the initial goal of raising $25,000, and he has been pleasantly surprised that Meredith has surpassed it. >read more
Meredith Alumnae Receive Philanthropy Award
Meredith College alumnae Rebekah Meek, '05, and Laura Williams, '04, have been recognized for their philanthropic work to support Sri Lanka following the December 2004 tsunami.
Meek and Williams received the 2005 Outstanding Youth Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Triangle Chapter. The award was presented on November 17 during the Association's National Philanthropy Day Awards Celebration. >read more
Study Abroad Director Offers Sri Lanka Update
A point of view article written by Betty Webb, Meredith professor of English and director of study abroad, was published in the Sunday, October 16 edition of The News & Observer.
In the article, Webb recounts her recent visit to Sri Lanka, offering an update on how the region is fairing following the tsunami nine months ago. >read more
(NEW!) Tide of Hope Update Sessions Scheduled
The Tide of Hope Steering Committee invites the Meredith College community to attend one of two updates on the College's Sri Lankan relief projects. The sessions will be held in Dogwood B Dining Room on Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 12:30-2 p.m. or on Wednesday, Oct. 19 in Dogwood B from noon to 1 p.m. Please bring your tray (or bag lunch) and join the discussions. >read more
Meredith College Team Plans Return to Sri Lanka
Meredith “Tide of Hope” committee members Betty Webb, John Rose and Rebekah Meek, ’05, will return to Sri Lanka this month to assess the progress made in the areas affected by the December tsunami. Alumna Melissa Bishop,’99, will accompany the group. >read more
Tsunami Relief Rockathon Successful
On September 9 and 10, students in Meredith's First-Year Experience classes "rocked"—in rocking chairs—during "Rock for Relief" a 24-hour rock-a-thon to raise money for tsunami relief. >read more
Think Globally…Act Globally!
by Gail Kenyon, Assistant Professor, Meredith College, Department of Sociology and Social Work.
I knew about tsunamis because my mother was a fan of Pearl S. Buck and when she was done with the novels, we children got to read them. Something about the quiet, deadly waves stuck in my consciousness. Later, I would have dreams of seeing that wall of water coming and running for higher ground only to be engulfed and swept away. Unlike the real thing, my dream tsunami was clear, clean water, not sludge filled with trees, cars, dirt, concrete, wood, bricks. Not thick, dark water that demolished houses pulverized fishing boats and swept away families. Never in my waking dreams did I think a real tsunami would have anything to do with me. >read more
Meredith Alumna Shares Sri Lanka Experience
An essay by Rebekah Meek,'05, about her experience visiting Sri Lanka ran in The News & Observer on Monday, May 23. Meek was one of seven Meredith faculty, staff and students who visited Sri Lanka as part of the College's "A Tide of Hope" tsunami relief effort.
Meek is participating in a June 3-30 art show at Raleigh's Jill Flink Fine Art. The art show, featuring photography by Meek and Laura Williams,'04, is a fundraiser for tsunami relief.
Click here to read Rebekah Meek's essay.
Meredith College's "Tide of Hope" Tsunami Relief Efforts - Question and Answer
In January 2005, Meredith College made a commitment to provide both immediate and sustained aid to the victims of the December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. As of June 1, 2005, Meredith had raised nearly $22,000 for tsunami victims in Sri Lanka. Three projects have been identified as the focus of Meredith's long-term fundraising efforts.
If you've been looking for information about Meredith's efforts or have been unsure about how you could help provide relief, the answers to many of your questions are outlined below. full story
Meredith Study Abroad Director Shares Sri Lanka Experience
The News & Observer ran an op-ed piece by Meredith's Study Abroad Director Betty Webb about her recent return to describing her return to tsunami-devastated areas of Sri Lanka. The point of view article, "On the tsunami beach, life struggles to go on," ran in the paper's Sunday, April 3 edition. full story
Journals from Sri Lanka
Seven members of the Meredith community will travel to Sri Lanka on March 22 and will return on April 1. Vice President for Academic Affairs Rosalind Reichard, faculty members Betty Webb and Gail Kenyon, students Kelly Jones and Rebecca Meek, alumna Laura Williams, and advisor to the Tide of Hope committee John Rose will travel approximately 60 hours round trip, circumnavigate the globe and view areas affected by December's disaster, all in 11 days. full story
