Red, white and blue ribbons hug the necks of teddy bears fashioned out of towels and washcloths by the University Heights Academy Junior American Citizens Club.
The white terry cloth critters are part of a heart-felt Valentineâs Day service project to benefit the Pennyroyal Veterans Center. The center identifies homeless veterans and provides them treatment for substance abuse, mental health or provides job skills.
âItâs really a great opportunity for these students to understand the impact of the military community,â said Tammy Staley, UHA admissions counselor and project organizer.
Traditionally, the clubâs service project gifts are given to veterans at Christmas, but COVID-19 delayed the plans until Valentineâs Day this year, Staley said.
UF awards faculty nearly $1 million to study racial disparities
The University of Florida is committing nearly $1 million to faculty research projects focused on racial disparities in health care, diversity in professional programs, challenges in developing and teaching an inclusive curriculum, and strategies for creating a more inclusive campus environment.
UF Research and the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer have been working together since June to support programs that reflect UF President Kent Fuchs’ call for a wide-ranging examination of race relations at the university.
Over the last few weeks, UF Research has awarded $970,000 to more than a dozen faculty teams across campus.