Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Pima Medical Institute's Efforts in Albuquerque Helps Animals, Children and Seniors

Pima Medical Institute's Efforts in Albuquerque Helps Animals, Children and Seniors

What started out as a random act of kindness blossomed into a joy-filled effort that benefited animals, children and senior citizens throughout Albuquerque, thanks to the efforts of students and staff at Pima Medical Institute, 2201 San Pedro NE, Bldg 3, Suite 100 in Albuquerque.

Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) March 29, 2007

What started out as a random act of kindness blossomed into a joy-filled effort that benefited animals, children and senior citizens throughout Albuquerque, thanks to the efforts of students and staff at Pima Medical Institute, 2201 San Pedro NE, Bldg 3, Suite 100 in Albuquerque.

The idea for the random acts of kindness started when the Respiratory Therapy students at the college decided they wanted to celebrate Valentine's Day by doing a good deed. They received permission to hold a bake sale and donated the proceeds to an Emergency Fund for disadvantaged students at Pima Medical Institute.

Then, Holly Woelber, campus director of the Albuquerque campus, attended a conference at an Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools conference in California. While she was there, she won a cash prize that was earmarked by ABHES for students to perform "Random Acts of Kindness". The students were to come up with ideas for kind acts and implement them. PMI's corporate office matched the $125 Woelber won upping the ante to $250.

The various classes at the Albuquerque campus submitted their ideas for kind acts and the following three projects were chosen: donating towels, blankets and toys for the animals at the Northeast Animal Control Center; providing small gifts and interacting with members of a nearby nursing home, and purchasing toys, stickers and books for the children at the University of New Mexico Children's Hospital.

"The response we had to this project was so heartwarming," said Woelber. "One of our students told us of her interaction with a 91-year-old woman. When she offered her a tote bag to decorate, the woman thought there was a fee and said she didn't have any money. When the student told her it was a gift, the woman smiled and decided to decorate one. The student said the woman's smile and laughter was inspirational. Whether it was a child, a senior citizen or a furry friend, the students said they knew they made a difference in the person or animal's life, even if it was only for a couple of hours. It was a great project and one I hope will inspire others to do the same."

Pima Medical Institute is one of the premier medical career colleges in the western United States. The privately owned, accredited school provides students with a well-rounded education embracing theoretical classroom studies, as well as on-site training at medical facilities that mirror the working environment they will pursue after graduation.

The career college has been serving students since 1972, with campuses in: Albuquerque, New Mexico; Mesa and Tucson, AZ; Denver and Colorado Springs, CO; Seattle and Renton, WA; Las Vegas, NV and Chula Vista, CA. Additional information is available at http://www. pmi. edu (http://www. pmi. edu) or by calling 1-888-442-5998.

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