Ashford University has donated $5000 to the Gateway Chapter of the American Red Cross to help victims of Tuesday night’s fire at Clinton’s Deer Ridge Apartment.

            “This fire, just a block away from the University, was a tragedy in itself, but we are certainly feeling it on a personal level,” said James Chitwood, President of Ashford University. “Two of our current students and a former student lived in the apartments and lost everything.”

            He also noted that the apartment building was the first location of Mount St. Clare Academy, which later became Mount St. Clare College and then Ashford.

            On the night of the fire, members of AU’s Student Government Association helped the Red Cross provide relief to the victims by helping set up beds at Jefferson School and locate clothing for them.

In addition to its donation to the Red Cross, the University is collecting donations to help its students replace some of the items they lost in the fire. Ashford has also offered to house the students in its residence halls for the rest of the semester and Ameriserv, AU’s food service provider, has offered to provide them free meals.

A regular supporter of the Red Cross, Ashford sponsors the organization’s annual “Disaster Luau” and last year donated another $5000 for Hurricane Katrina relief.

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is a coeducational institution regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, with programs in education, business, accounting, criminal and social justice, computer animation and graphic design, and other areas.  The University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a range of student activities and athletics, at its Clinton campus.  Online degree programs are available in education, organizational management, business administration, and psychology.  The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable on-campus and online programs, with tuition fees among the lowest in the U.S. compared to other private institutions.  Its tagline is: “Higher Education Made Affordable”^SM.  For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu.