By
Sonia McBride
January 28, 2008
The UW student who was assaulted moving her vehicle off campus earlier this month will have her medical bills covered thanks to the efforts of Treehouse, a non-profit organization that has created a medical fund in her name.
Treehouse, which provides programs and resources for foster children, set up the fund Jan. 11. Because the student’s name has not yet been released, the fund had been named “The Pink Blanket Fund.”
“Treehouse has known this student for a number of years,” wrote Janis Avery, the executive director of Treehouse, in an e-mail. “Her need was expected to be great. There was a tremendous swell of community support, and Treehouse has the capacity to administer a fund of this kind. It was a simple but important way we could be helpful.”
Approximately $7,000 has been donated to date, including funds from an event sponsored by a UW fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Avery said.
“We thought it would be easy to raise some money,” said Kevin Merritt, president of Tau Kappa Epsilon.
The fraternity hosted a party where they asked guests for donations at the door, which generated about $600 in just a few hours. This amount was then tripled by one of the member’s parents, and other contributions from members’ friends and families resulted in more than $2,200 then donated to the Pink Blanket Fund, Merritt said.
Although the victim has student medical insurance, and will be aided by a Victim’s Assistance Fund, her medical expenses are expected to exceed these two sources, Avery said.
“Anyone who has experienced a serious assault of this kind has to participate in a number of rehabilitation therapies,” she said. “Her medical team is recommending in-patient rehabilitation to ensure a complete recovery.”
Some students believe funds should be extended to other medical patients as well.
“It’s great that she is being helped, but why should just one person get help paying her medical bills when many other students have similar needs?” senior Lia Brown said.
Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo bank.
[Reach reporter Sonia McBride at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]
3 Comments
#1 Linda
on January 28, 2008 at 9:42 a.m.(Scottsdale, AZ | Unverified Name)
What a magnanimous gesture of kindness this was by the members of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. It is comforting to know that there are frat boys who think about more than partying.
#2 sara
on January 28, 2008 at 6:49 p.m.(Bellingham, WA | Unverified Name)
“It’s great that she is being helped, but why should just one person get help paying her medical bills when many other students have similar needs?” senior Lia Brown said.
wow Lia--I didn't realize that so many other students with similar needs (nearly beaten to death with a hammer)were on campus. Thanks for bringing this to light and showing such compassion. Tell me, were you one of the people that ignored this girl's cry for help?
Thank you Tau Kappy Epsilon for helping this person.
#3 yeppers w/ #2
on January 29, 2008 at 12:19 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I agree w/ #2. In addition, this woman basically has no biological family to help her out--they all died in Rwanda--she does have a sponsor here though who helped bring her to the US, although I don't know what obligation this person would have to help her out with medical bills. She worked hard to get to the US, to get into UW, and is in the process of studying engineering, trying to make a better life for herself, and this is what she gets in return? I'm sad and I'm disappointed in people generally. I'm also scared and angry. She will be in my thoughts. It does warm my heart to see a fund established and people contributing. I will too.
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