Office of Public Affairs

(315) 312-2265


Nov. 5, 2003


CONTACT: Greg Lawson, 312-3601


STUDENT FUND-RAISER TO SUPPORT ADVOCATES FOR DISABLED

    OSWEGO -- SUNY Oswego students who choose to forgo food on Nov. 20 as part of this year's Miss-a-Meal fund-raiser will do so as part of a broader programming menu supporting advocates for the disabled.

    The twice-a-year fund-raiser allows students to decline a meal and donate that money instead to a worthy cause.

    The goal for this semester's Miss-a-Meal program is to raise $5,000 for Advocacy Resources Information Services Education (ARISE), an organization offering support services for the disabled. But Student Association Vice President Greg Lawson said that this is the main course to an effort "to really change the perception of disabled affairs on this campus."

    Among other things, raising $5,000 would allow ARISE of Oswego to "add a wheelchair ramp to one person's home, which has an incredible impact on what they can do and cannot do," Lawson said.

    The broader campaign, themed "Nothing Is Impossible," developed after Dan Preston, SA's director of disability services, convinced Lawson to read an inspirational book of that name by paralyzed actor Christopher Reeve.

    The SA Senate and Auxiliary Services board signed on make both the fall and spring Miss-a-Meal activities part of an awareness campaign. The spring fund-raiser is expected to support the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.
 
   Lawson gives much of the credit to Preston, who is pursuing his second degree at Oswego and has not let being in wheelchair stop him from being a high achiever.

    "Dan is a real example for students," Lawson said. "Our senators all look up to him for his work ethic."

    For the spring, SA plans to link the Miss-a-Meal date in March to a whole week promoting disability awareness and appreciation. Such activities as a wheelchair basketball game and other interactive events helping students relate to those with disabilities are in the plans, Lawson said. The SA vice president expressed confidence that the effort would succeed because "we're a very community-minded campus," he said.

    For more information on Miss-a-Meal or the awareness campaign, call Lawson at 312-3601.

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Last semester's Miss A Meal effort helped Literacy Volunteers

FEEDING A WORTHY CAUSE -- Diane Falise of Literacy Volunteers of Oswego County (left) accepts a check from SSUNY Oswego Student Association Vice President Greg Lawson. Looking on are Sandy King and Craig Traub of Auxiliary Services. The twice-a-year Miss-a-Meal event, where students forego a meal and donate the cost instead to a community charity, raised $3,824.88 in the spring to benefit the local literacy program. This fall's edition to benefit the local chapter of ARISE, which offers support services for the disabled, will take place Thursday, Nov. 20.


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