Online college to raise money for victims of Haiti earthquake

Online college to raise money for victims of Haiti earthquake

Ashworth College, an accredited online education institution, has recently announced the kickoff of a fundraising campaign to support the American Red Cross in their relief efforts in Haiti.

From January 15 through January 22, Ashworth will seek pledges to help the charitable organization deliver clean water, food, blankets and medical supplies to the Haitian people.

"Ironically our Ashworth Causes Committee was already scheduled to meet the day after the earthquake struck," said Jeannie Brady, director of human resources as the college. "So we were able to put our 'Donations for Haitians' fundraising plans into immediate action."

Ashworth College regularly supports several charitable organizations including Habitat for Humanity, the American Cancer Society, the Salvation Army, the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Mother Against Drunk Driving.

Nearly one in four American students take at least some college courses online, up from one in 10 in 2002, Reuters reports. The online education sector grew 13 percent last year and had been growing at about 20 percent in previous years.