Franciscan University campus photo

Franciscan Students Donate to Aim Women’s Center

Franciscan University campus photoThere was a silver lining to the cancellation of the April Steubenville Hilltop Communities block party due to the coronavirus. Students at Franciscan University who sponsor the annual party for Steubenville residents in the LaBelle and Pleasant Heights neighborhoods near the Franciscan campus, instead donated the $5,000 they had raised for the event to the Aim Women’s Center in Steubenville.

“We were overjoyed,” said Christi Aborn, executive director of Aim. “The $5,000 can help four expectant mothers utilize the full range of our services.”

Aborn is especially grateful for the donation as Aim had to cancel its own spring fundraiser, a dinner banquet, due to COVID-19 social-distancing restrictions, and had instead launched a 10-day online fundraiser.

Rhett Young, director of Mission Outreach at Franciscan University, said the money comes from 30 students who collected donations from family and friends in support of their involvement in spring and summer Steubenville mission trips, including the block party.

“The students enthusiastically supported the Aim donation,” said Young. “They look forward to hosting the block party each year, but they know the money is going to a worthy local non-profit.”

Learn more about Franciscan University at the institution’s website.