Dinner benefits Troops to College

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St. Patrick’s Day-themed event held in Danner Hall

On March 16 the Troops for College program hosted a corned beef and cabbage dinner.

The dinner was held in Upper Danner Hall to raise money for the veterans.

The fundraiser was Irish themed in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and featured Irish music and snapshots of Ireland that rotated in a slideshow presentation on the wall.

“Overall the dinner went well,” said Catherine Mooney,  Troops to College coordinator. “I believe our goal was met.”

Upper Danner was transformed by tables covered with white tablecloths, green four-leaf clover confetti and gold-coin chocolates.

Each table also displayed a shamrock plant as a centerpiece.

The Irish Shamrock plants were sold for $5.

“My understanding is that they sold more tickets than they were expecting ,” said Tina Lent, Financial Aid Assistant Director. “So it was an overwhelming success.”

Each plate sold for $15.

The menu included corned beef brisket, red potatoes, wedges of cabbage, and authentic Irish soda-bread made by Gillian Murphy, director of the small business development center.

“The funds from our dinner are going to pay for the sashes for this years veteran graduates,” Mooney said.

Members of For Goodness Sake, the community affiliate for the Troops for College Program, and members of the Veteran Student Alliance served dinner with a smile.

For Goodness Sake works hard to fill needs, show support and share love and gratitude to our active military, reservists and veterans.

Jason Denny, Troops for College program assistant, welcomed and thanked all in attendance for their continued support.

“The people here, along with financial aid and admission and records [staff] have developed services for the Troops for College program that have helped me out a great deal,” said Denny.

Denny, a veteran student here a Delta College, offers ideas and assistance from a veterans point of view.

“It’s really a comprehensive service,” Denny said. “We actually try to find out what all the vet’s needs are and we try to facilitate those services.”

Troops for College is now preparing for the 4th of July Parade where the Boots to Books Scholarship Fund, a fund created to assist returning veterans in pursuing an education, has been selected as the Grand Marshall for the parade.