Penn's Tsunami Response

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Message from the President

Since the Indian Ocean tsunami struck in December, the world has responded with an unprecedented outpouring of humanitarian aid. As of late January, global giving to relief efforts was estimated at between three and four billion dollars. The U.S. Agency for International Development has identified 70 aid agencies working in the region, which represents only a small percentage of the total number of organizations engaged in the relief effort.

The University of Pennsylvania has encouraged members of the community to give generously to relief agencies active in emergency response. Penn also is committed to playing an active institutional role in longer-term restructuring efforts. Because Penn’s core mission is education, and schooling is central to these communities’ return to hopeful lives, Penn is focusing its institutional effort on rebuilding the educational infrastructure in countries affected by the tsunami.

Dr. Susan Fuhrman, Dean of the Graduate School of Education, has agreed to coordinate Penn’s role in educational rebuilding. Dean Fuhrman and Penn’s Tsunami Education Relief Steering Committee are actively engaged in partnerships that will direct aid and expertise to the region and assistance and counsel to agencies with specific and promising interests in education rebuilding.

Individuals and organizations across the campus have engaged in an impressive marshalling of funds and resources. I urge Penn faculty, staff, students and alumni to support this longer term rebuilding effort and to continue to respond to the needs of the affected communities.

Dr. Amy Gutmann