'Bear The Burden' To Aid Tsunami Disaster Relief In Asia
Baylor University Student Government has announced the start of Bear the Burden, a campaign to raise $50,000 by Feb. 7 to send to the disaster relief efforts in Asia. The campaign began Friday, Jan. 7, and will run for one month.
"Baylor Bears have always risen to the occasion to help people in need and now is no exception," said Jeff Leach, Baylor student body president and chair of the Bear the Burden campaign.
Bear the Burden will solicit donations from the entire Baylor family, as well as the Central Texas community. All Baylor students, faculty, staff and Baylor alumni were notified of the online giving options through mass e-mails that were sent out on Jan. 7.
Checks can be made payable to "Bear the Burden-Baylor University" and should be mailed to:
BU Student Government
c/o Bear the Burden
One Bear Place #85555
Waco, Texas 76798
Leach, along with other student leaders, will present a check of all of the funds raised by the Baylor family to Samaritan's Purse International Relief on Monday, Feb. 7. Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Samaritan's Purse is focusing their operations in Sri Lanka and Indonesia with plans to distribute over 1 million water purification packets and 700 plastic tarps for temporary shelter, as well as supporting numerous other relief efforts in over 10 countries.
Baylor student leaders also have offered alums and others with the option of giving gifts through the Baptist General Convention of Texas and their coordinated relief efforts of the Texas Baptist Mission Foundation. The Texas Baptist Mission Foundation is currently providing relief efforts on the ground in Southeast Asia, and more volunteers are headed that way in upcoming days and weeks.
To direct a gift to the Baptist General Convention of Texas, please make checks payable to "Bear the Burden - Baylor University" and note "BGCT Relief Fund - Baylor Alumni" on the check. Mail it to:
Baylor Student Government
c/o Bear the Burden
One Bear Place #85555
Waco, Texas 76798
To make a gift via the phone, call the Texas Baptist Mission Foundation directly at (800) 558-8263, and let them know that your gift is for the "Baylor Alumni" fund. 100% of your gift will go toward helping the victims of this disaster.
For more information, contact Jeff Leach at (254) 710-4082 or Jeffrey_Leach@baylor.edu.