Student Senator Raises $1,100 for Victims of Genocide in Darfur

SUNY Rockland Student Senator Raises $1,100

for Victims of Genocide in Darfur

Suffern, NY - Inspired to take action after viewing the movie, "Hotel Rwanda," a SUNY Rockland student held fundraisers to raise money and awareness for the victims of genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

Jessica Dohanyos of Stony Point, a sophomore senator in the Rockland Community College Student Government Association, chose to help the victims in Darfur for her student project. Through selling baked goods, pizza, ice-cream, 500 wristbands and organizing a banquet, she raised $1,100, which she donated to Help Darfur Now, a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness of and funds for the victims of the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

Dohanyos first learned about the genocide in Darfur in her high school English class at North Rockland three years ago. Her English teacher, Mr. John Joyce, showed his students the film, "Hotel Rwanda," and then told them about how this genocide had moved to Darfur.

Dr. Cliff L. Wood, College President said, “Clearly Jessica understands ‘the power of one.’ Individually and together with other students, she has raised the College’s consciousness about the issues of ongoing genocide in war-torn Darfur.”

Dohanyos feels grateful for the donations she received from the College community towards her work. She is graduating this month and plans to transfer to SUNY New Paltz where she will major in Speech.

For more information, contact Debra Balestra, Director, Student Involvement, at 845-574-4373, dbalestr@sunyrockland.edu

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Rockland Community College, a unit of the State University of New York, is located 25 miles northwest of NYC. The majority of its students transfer to four-year colleges, and many find immediate employment upon earning their associate's degree or certificate. The College also offers others, from preschoolers to senior citizens, the opportunity to simply learn something new. Quality education...at a price you can afford.