Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has established a relief fund to help coordinate efforts to support victims of the devastating earthquake that struck the island nation earlier this month.

A number of student groups and others at the 14 PASSHE universities already have conducted several fundraisers on their own. The universities, working in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), will collectively accept donations during all of their men’s and women’s basketball games scheduled from Jan. 27 through Feb. 3. Funds collected during the games will be donated to the American Red Cross. The PSAC comprises the 14 PASSHE universities and two private institutions, Gannon University and Mercyhurst College.

“We will work with the various relief agencies that are involved in the recovery effort,” said PASSHE Chancellor John C. Cavanaugh. “Several of our universities have done outreach efforts in Haiti in the past. Each of our universities and this office will work to do whatever we can to assist in this situation.”

Cheyney and Kutztown Universities of Pennsylvania will coordinate the systemwide efforts. All funds received through those joint projects will be sent to the PASSHE Foundation and then forwarded to relief agencies that are directly involved with disaster recovery.

“As faculty and students return to classes at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education institutions, students look forward to commencing their studies and to contributing to the relief effort for Haiti,” said Cheyney President Michelle Howard-Vital. “Chancellor Cavanaugh and the PASSHE university presidents will work together to help coordinate the activities of the student government organizations and other groups on the campuses who want to assist the residents of Haiti with needed funds and supplies.”

Many PASSHE students, faculty and staff have ties to Haiti. The System will reach out to those in the stricken nation to identify other ways they can help. Dr. Howard-Vital and Kutztown University President F. Javier Cevallos will lead that effort on behalf of PASSHE.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with nearly 117,000 students. The 14 PASSHE universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Approximately 454,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.

Schedule of games where donations will be accepted (time listed is for women’s game; men’s game follows):

Edinboro @ Gannon5:30 p.m.

California @ Indiana5:30 p.m.

West Chester at Kutztown6 p.m.

Lock Haven at Slippery Rock6 p.m.

Mercyhurst @ Clarion6 p.m.

Millersville @ Cheyney6 p.m.

Mansfield @ East Stroudsburg 6 p.m.

Bloomsburg @ Shippensburg6 p.m.

January 30

Millersville @ Mansfield 1 p.m.

Edinboro @ Clarion 1 p.m.

West Chester @ East Stroudsburg 1 p.m.

Mercyhurst @ California 1 p.m.

Kutztown @ Bloomsburg 1 p.m.

Cheyney @ Shippensburg1 p.m.

Gannon @ Lock Haven 5 p.m.

Indiana @ Slippery Rock6 p.m.

February 3

Mansfield @ Bloomsburg 5:30 p.m.

Gannon @ Mercyhurst5:30 p.m.

Edinboro @ Indiana5:30 p.m.

Clarion @ Lock Haven6 p.m.

Shippensburg @ West Chester 6 p.m.

Cheyney @ Kutztown6 p.m.

East Stroudsburg @ Millersville 6 p.m.

Slippery Rock @ California 6 p.m.