Four Westminster College students organized a weeklong campaign to raise awareness about violence against women. The students raised $10,000, which will be donated to the Rape Recovery Center of Salt Lake City and will help develop violence prevention and support programs.
The students raised the money through ticket sales to three sold-out performances of "The Vagina Monologues," two silent auctions, a used book sale and weeklong donations solicited throughout the campus.
"We worked hard to educate the Westminster community about the extent of violence against women in the Salt Lake community and beyond," said Kayla Smith, student campaign organizer, in a written statement. "We think this unprecedented fund-raising success is a reflection of the concern that the community has for women."
The students surpassed their original goal of $9,000. The donation will help the Rape Recovery Center treat and heal victims of violence, said student campaign organizer Jessica Shurtleff.
"While we hope for the violence to stop, in the meantime, we want the healing to start," she said in a written statement.