This fall and winter, the Granger, Indiana campus of Ross Medical Education Center has been very busy serving their community and its members. They started out by supporting breast cancer awareness during the month of October. Then they decided to once again be a part of the Angel Tree program that benefits children in need during the holiday season.
In October, a group of Ross students, instructors, and staff members joined together to form a team to walk in the annual Making Strides walk hosted by the American Cancer Society across the nation. This is something that the campus looks forward to participating in each year. Every year that they have been able to participate, the Ross Granger campus has worked hard to make sure to have a team attend the walk and contribute in any way that they are able.
This year at the Making Strides of Michiana walk there were 150 teams and 904 participants. Once all was said and done, together they were able to raise $56,422.51 for breast cancer awareness and research. Making Strides of Michiana is just one of the hundreds of walks across the country in the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation. Each of the walks are three to five miles in length. The Ross Granger team raised $90 for the organization this year and many of those that participated walk every year. Some of them have a family member or friend who has or has had cancer and that is the reason why many of them contribute their time and donations for this event.
Later in the winter, the Granger campus has a tradition to receiving an “Angel Tree” from the Salvation Army. This is one of the ways they are able to give back to the community during the Christmas season. The Angel Tree was created in 1979 by the Salvation Army by Majors Charles and Shirley White. It helps bring Christmas to children of families in need. Each ornament has a child’s name on it with clothes sizes, shoe sizes, and a list of what they need as well as a few wants.
The Ross Granger campus has been doing the Angel Tree for three years. The staff and students get together by picking out an ornament and buying gifts for the child. “We do this because it’s heartfelt way to give back to the community and we all believe that a child shouldn’t have to go without Christmas because their family can’t afford it,” shared Mary Watkins, Financial Aid Student Support Representative at Ross. “I think what makes our campus special in this is because a lot of us, staff and students, have been in situations where we couldn’t afford Christmas for our children. A lot of us needed the help and they were there, now we can help when the need is there. I give because I have been in their shoes. I will do what I can to make sure a child has gifts under the tree each year.”