Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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Methodist University Celebrates Loyalty Day by ERINN CRIDER College is expensive, and every year all over the country the tuition prices is Jeannie Snider, Class of 2013, who says "My ambition keeps me in college, seem to go up. There are ways for students to manage the prices, however. but what keeps me at Methodist University is the family atmosphere, the One such way is through the generosity of the community. Thankfully, local wonderful faculty and staff who have helped me along the way and the colleges go out of their way to work with students to make a college education amazing career-oriented opportunities I have received. I am a recipient of a reality. At Methodist the Presidential Scholarship University, 95 percent of the at Methodist University. This students receive some sort of scholarship has not only helped financial aid. Last year the me pursue a degree, but it school awarded more than $17 has enabled me to receive the million in financial aid. best quality education possible One of the ways that in criminal justice. I plan Methodist University is able to to pursue a career with the help their students is through Fayetteville Police Department the Loyalty Day Scholarship and am looking forward to being Fund. When most people think engaged in the community which of Loyalty Day they think has given so much to me." of donations from alumni, Over the years Loyalty Day but alumni are not the only has grown just as the university Over the years Loyalty Day has grown just as the University has expanded both its reach and benefactors who contribute to has expanded both its reach programs. the fund. and programs. "Loyalty Day Methodist is a strong was born out of a commitment community-based school, and there are many individuals and businesses of annual support made by the Fayetteville community in 1955 when Methodist in the community that support it. Krista Lee, the director of the Annual University was established. At that time, the community pledged $50,000 a year. fundraiser noted, "Community members are our biggest supporters for the We try to increase our goal each year. This year we have a goal of $130,000 and Loyalty Day campaign. Last year 25 percent of our goal was met by alumni are hoping to surpass it through the overwhelming support of our community." support, 75 percent by community supporters, faculty and staff. However, it Lee said. is important to note that many of our alumni are also community members." For more information contact Lee at 630-7169. To donate While at Methodist University, students are completely entrenched in visit the website www.methodist.edu/advancement/loyalty.htm the community of the college. For many, this creates amazing experiences "We print the Loyalty Day thank you ERINN CRIDER, Contributing that motivate them to give back to their community and stay involved. The advertisement in the paper in April and Writer, COMMENTS? Editor@ money raised through the Loyalty Day campaign goes to benefit institutional usually conclude our campaign follow-up upandcomingweekly.com. scholarships that are specifically intended for students in need. One example by the end of March," says Lee. Guardian Ad Litem Helps Children by STEPHANIE CRIDER If ever there was something worth "When all other funding sources are investing in, worth protecting, worth exhausted we would look at the potential of fighting for, it is our future — the picking up the costs. That might be things country's next generation — our children. like special camps that are needed," said Most children are raised in well adjusted Sutherlin. "If there is a child that is obese and loving homes that offer them the you won't find a state agency that will pay support and resources they need to to send them to a camp for overweight succeed, and this is something over which children. That is something we would look to rejoice. For children who are abused, at funding. One of the primary things we neglected and beat down by the ones would look at is making sure each child they trust, betrayed by the adults who are would have something for Christmas. supposed to build them up and keep them Social Services does what they can and the safe, what recourse is there? Thankfully, Toy Drop that Fort Bragg runs provides the children of Cumberland County have gifts. It is wonderful when the military many advocates. Guardian Ad Litem is units are all here. When they are all gone one of them. A voice for children in court, things are sparse." the Guardian Ad Litem program consists Thanks to other communities in the of two attorney advocates, four program state that have similar programs, the local The children of Cumberland County have many advocates. Guardian Ad supervisors, a program assistant, a district foundation does not have to reinvent Litem is one of them. administrator and approximately 100 the wheel. New Hanover and Wake trained community volunteers. This group counties both have similar organizations of dedicated professionals advocate for abused and neglected children who that are successful in making a difference for kids. Sutherlin hopes that end up in the court system through no fault of their own. Cumberland County is not far behind, as this is something dear to her Jane Sutherlin has been a Guardian Ad Litem volunteer for almost four heart. "I was very fortunate. When our son was 4 months old, I was years. "We are the eyes and ears of the judges in the community," said given the opportunity to adopt him," said Sutherlin. "And I look at these Sutherlin. "Our goal is to determine what is in the best interest of each child. wonderful children and think 'there but for the grace of Social Services has mandates they have to follow; we are not limited by the God ...' He is 44 years old now and our lives have been so statutory stipulations. We get to think outside the box and think in terms of enriched by having him in our lives." what is in the best interest of the children." To find out more about the Sometimes though, good intentions are not enough and current resources Guardian Ad Litem program, visit STEPHANIE CRIDER, Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcominonly cover so much. Sutherlin, along with other volunteers and state officials www.cumberlandcountygal.com gweekly.com are moving to form a 501c3 foundation that will help fill in the gaps. or call 910.475.3291. 8 UCW JAN. 30 - FEB. 5, 2013 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM