FranU Environmental Care Organization Raises $1,000 for Wounded Warrior Project

FranU Environmental Care Organization (ECO) will present a $1,000 donation to the Wounded Warrior Project at noon May 5 in St. Francis Hall. The presentation will take place during a campus event featuring guest speaker Yolanda Poullard, a U.S. Army veteran.

The donation reflects ECO’s commitment to service and support for veterans. As a student organization, ECO regularly organizes volunteer projects throughout the Baton Rouge area, including graveyard cleanups and lake restoration efforts. The fundraiser is part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to connect service work with community needs.

What is often overlooked with a wounded warrior are the wounds inside that wear on the mind,” said Lawrence Bird, ECO club sponsor and biology professor. “ECO's donation will help those struggling with the wounds of the mind as well as wounds of the physical body.”

Guest speaker Poullard served in the U.S. Army and experienced deployment challenges and post-traumatic stress disorder. She later received support through the Wounded Warrior Project. She now shares her story to raise awareness for veterans in need.

My experience with the Wounded Warrior Project didn’t just support my transition; it helped restore a part of me I thought I had lost,” said Poullard. “Today, I stand not just as a veteran but as a leader, an advocate and someone committed to lifting others.”

The event will include free food and a chance to win a $25 7 Brew gift card. Attendees will also learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project and available resources at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Next year, ECO plans to continue its service efforts by collaborating with other organizations to raise funds for a mobility chair for a paralyzed warrior.