The Officers of the Alpha Rho Eta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Kishwaukee College met and presented a check to Luis and Pamela Dixon-Silva at Resource Bank in Malta on March 8. The students raised $450 for the family, who lost everything in a fire at their home in late January. Pictured are, L to R, Luis Silva holding his daughter, Lilly; Pamela Dixon-Silva; Yuka Votaw, PTK Vice President; Erica Huerta, PTK President; Tim Meinhardt, PTK Hallmark Officer; Crystal Dalaguete, PTK Public Relations Officer; and Jaimie Goecks, PTK Recording Officer.
KC PTK chapter assists local family in need
The Officers of the Alpha Rho Eta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Kishwaukee College met and presented a check to Luis and Pamela Dixon-Silva at Resource Bank in Malta on March 8. The students raised $450 for the family, who lost everything in a fire at their home in late January. Pictured are, L to R, Luis Silva holding his daughter, Lilly; Pamela Dixon-Silva; Yuka Votaw, PTK Vice President; Erica Huerta, PTK President; Tim Meinhardt, PTK Hallmark Officer; Crystal Dalaguete, PTK Public Relations Officer; and Jaimie Goecks, PTK Recording Officer.
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Alpha Rho Eta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Kishwaukee College had not committed their fundraising to any particular service project for the 2010 spring semester when faculty advisor Laurie Hoecherl read about the Luis Silva family of Malta who had lost their home to a fire on January 20. Hoecherl shared the family’s tragedy with the PTK officers. A short time later, Recording Officer Jaimie Goecks found herself in Hickey’s corner store looking at a glass collection jar for the Silva family. She asked if the clerk knew the family...the clerk not only knew the family, she immediately dialed Pamela Dixon-Silva’s sister and handed the phone to Jaimie. It almost seemed like fate.
The result of these links of coincidence was that the Alpha Rho Eta chapter raised money during their spring bake sale and basketball game concession in February for the Silva family. On March 8, the officers of PTK met the Silva family at Resource Bank in Malta, where a fund has been established to assist the family, and presented them with a check for $450.
The Silva family’s life changed drastically on January 20 when their single-story home in Malta was consumed by an accidental electrical fire. The family—father Luis, mother Pamela Dixon-Silva and their four children, Katie, 14, Ahna, 10, Ava, 8, and Lilly, 16 months—lost everything in the fire. Two of the children attend Malta Elementary School which held a clothing drive soon after the fire; the local Red Cross has also helped the family. Pamela Dixon-Silva’s sister established the account at Resource Bank to further help the family.
The money raised by the Alpha Rho Eta chapter of PTK will be deposited into the Dixon-Silva Benefit Account at Resource Bank. Faculty advisor Hoecherl said, “I am so proud of the students in the chapter. They jumped right in and really helped.” Luis Silva stated, “I am so impressed that the students took the time to help.” Pamela Dixon-Silva added, “It’s almost overwhelming that these students would help us out. It is very inspiring. We’ve talked about this with our girls. It sets such a good example for them, to help others.”
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is an organization which recognizes academically strong students in two-year colleges and emphasizes four hallmarks—scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship. The Alpha Rho Eta chapter at Kishwaukee College is one of over 1400 chapters around the world.
Donations are still being accepted for the Dixon-Silva Benefit Account at Resource Bank. Resource Bank has branches in Malta, DeKalb, Cortland, Genoa, Hinckley, and Sycamore and will accept donation at any branch.
For more information on Phi Theta Kappa, visit www.ptk.org; for more information on the Kishwaukee College chapter, visit Alpha Rho Eta of Phi Theta Kappa on Facebook or visit www.alpharhoeta.com.
