February 19, 2002

ISU receives $25,000 gift from
Hamilton Center, Inc.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State University’s department of social work recently received a gift of $25,000 from Hamilton Center, Inc., to establish an endowed fund in social work.

The Hamilton Center Endowed Social Work Fund will help provide additional funds above the normal budget in the department of social work. It will help fund guest speakers, distance education including the use of statewide multimedia programs and traditional format activities such as in-service training, conferences, seminars and workshops.

“This gift allows the department of social work to offer hands-on social work experiences to students, faculty and local social service people,” said William Tromble, director of development for the College of Arts and Sciences at ISU. “This gift will grow over the years and will continue to bring in nationally known speakers and aid in planning and conducting workshops and conferences for the benefit of the social services community. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.”

ISU and Hamilton Center are teaming up in March as they bring Diane DiNitto, Ph.D., M.S.W. of the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work to Terre Haute. She will discuss the neurobiology of addictions and the impact of current policy on addictions. The conference begins at 9 a.m. March 5 at Maryland Community Church on Indiana 46, east of Terre Haute.

“This gift means a lot to the department of social work,” said Robyn Lugar, interim chairperson of the department. “We hope this gift will help us become a leader of social work continuing education so people will want to come to Terre Haute. It will help us to better network within the community and develop relationships with other organizations in the community.”

Galen Goode, CEO, Hamilton Center, Inc., agreed that the partnership will be beneficial to the Wabash Valley.

“We are excited about the continuing education partnership with Indiana State University’s Department of Social Work,” Goode said. “This cooperative effort will allow us to host nationally known experts in the field of human services, which will ultimately provide the community with well-trained social workers.”

Because March is National Social Work Month, the National Association of Social Work will present its regional Citizen of the Year and Social Worker of the Year awards during the conference. Those winners’ names will be submitted for consideration of state recognition.

Cost of the March 5 event is $35 for the general public, free to ISU faculty, students and Hamilton Center employees. Refreshments will be served. To register for the event or for more information, call the ISU department of social work at (812) 237-8787.

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Writer:
Jennifer Kearns, assistant director, public affairs
(812) 237-3743 or devkearn@isugw.indstate.edu

ISU Public Affairs:
(812) 237-3773 or http://isunews.indstate.edu