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Cortney Shepard

While on a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic in 2007, senior biology major Cortney Shepard came across an infant being fed only 2 crackers a day. Deeply saddened, Cortney was interested in purchasing formula for the infant, but was unable to do so. Upon her return, she spoke with her advisor, Amy Obringer, who supported her desire to start a drive on campus. As a result, the Formula For Life drive was created, with the decision to raise formula to be sent to Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world.

"Throughout my junior year I raised enough money to send approximately 4,600 meals to a mother-baby hospital in Haiti, where the infants typically consume only water. In order to raise this money I got student clubs and organizations on campus involved. I asked that each group do something to raise money that pertained to their club: ie. Athletics- lift-a-thon, PTA- massage-a-thon, etc. This was a successful means of raising money for the cause."

During her senior year, the first of two fundraisers was posted as an article in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette and was so successful, that it surpassed the total amount of money raised the previous year. A second fundraiser, the Formula for Life Benefit, will took place on April 26th at 12 noon at the North Campus Auditorium. The benefit will included a 5K run/walk, silent auction, live music and food.

"What I love most about what I do is knowing that I may have saved at least one life from starvation. I know a drive like this could never save them all, but maybe one life has changed. It is also really great to see a community come together to support a cause like this, from the Fort Wayne community all the way to the USF community. It shows in times like these that people truly still care."

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