$1700 Donated to Special Olympics Southern California by Occupational Therapy Assistant Students at Stanbridge College

IRVINE, CA, August 25, 2012 (Press-News.org) Stanbridge College, a technical college that offers Masters, Bachelors and Associate of Science degrees and diploma programs in Healthcare and Information Technology, Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) students recently donated over $1700 to the Special Olympics Southern California. The OTA students hosted several fundraisers to support the non-profit and promote occupational therapy to public and the student body at Stanbridge College. This is the second event in which Stanbridge College has supported Special Olympics Southern California, after sending students and staff to volunteer at their 2012 Summer Games in Long Beach, California.

On their own initiative, the OTA students worked together and hosted a bake sale, a custom-made occupational therapy awareness t-shirt sale, a silent auction and a networking event with members of the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) at a local El Torito. Funds raised from these activities were donated to the Special Olympics Southern California to help empower individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition.

According to Occupational Therapy Assistant student and fundraiser coordinator, Jiro Francisco, "The experience of OT Week was simply historic for me because the event enabled leaders and talents from our cohort to come together as a whole to successfully achieve our goal, raising funds for Special Olympics and promoting awareness for Occupational Therapy. We are so thankful for the amazing camaraderie and cooperation from all of the OTA cohorts who volunteered and faculty and staff members at Stanbridge who helped us."
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) occupational therapy is a science-driven, evidence-based profession that enables people of all ages live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability. Each April, occupational therapy (OT) and OTA professionals and students celebrate OT and are encouraged to promote the profession to the public.

The OT Awareness Fundraisers were a part of the OTA students' service learning project, a critical part of curriculum at Stanbridge College. All students at Stanbridge College are encouraged to participate in community service through the REACH - Beyond the Classroom Service Learning and Civic Engagement initiative. The Stanbridge College REACH initiative provides students with opportunities to give back to the community while earning credit towards coursework in a structured environment.

For more information regarding community service at Stanbridge College please visit http://www.stanbridge.edu/reach.

About Stanbridge College
Based in Irvine, CA, Stanbridge College is a co-educational, technical college with an annual enrollment of over 850 students. Founded in 1996, Stanbridge is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Stanbridge College offers Master, Bachelor and Associate of Science degrees and diploma programs in Healthcare and Information Technology.

In 2009, 2010 and 2011, Stanbridge College received an award from Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc., as one of America's Best Technical Colleges. Stanbridge has also been named to the 2009, 2010 and 2011 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. In 2008-2009 Stanbridge College was the recipient of the School of Excellence Award from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), and since 2007 it has maintained one of the highest continuous pass rates in California on the NCLEX-PN nursing exam, with a 96% cumulative pass rate. For more information, please visit http://www.stanbridge.edu or call (949) 794-9090.