Fraters Raise Money for Beaten Student

SEATTLE, Wash. - Fraters from Chi Chapter at the University of Washington hosted a fundraising event Wednesday night to help offset the medical costs of a student who was assaulted with a hammer near their campus home last week.

Frater Kevin Merritt, the Prytanis of Chi Chapter, said the idea was brought up at a chapter meeting Monday when members decided to raise money at an already-scheduled event.

"We talked about what happened and were saddened no one was there to help," Frater Merritt said. "Since we were already planning to throw hold an event down the street from where it happened, we thought it would be a great idea to ask for donations." The parents of one of the fraters also pledged to make a matching contribution.

All the money raised will be donated to Treehouse, a social-service organization for foster children that has opened an account at Wells Fargo to help the woman, whose parents are dead.

According to Frank Nam of Treehouse, more than $1,000 had been donated to the "Pink Blanket Fund" on behalf of the 22-year-old freshman engineering student.

According to Seattle police, the woman was attacked Jan. 8 when she left her dorm room around 7 a.m. to move her car. The injured woman has had surgery on her fractured skull and was expected to have plastic surgery next week to repair a shattered cheekbone.

The Offices of the Grand Chapter extend our hearts to the woman who was injured in this vicious attack and commend the Fraters at Chi Chapter for lending a helping hand in their community.

If you would like to see your chapter news here, contact Communications Coordinator Tom McAninch.