1974: Greeks Fund Purchase of Handicap Van

Former Potsdam resident Stefanie Tischler passed away on April 1, 2016 at the age of 83. Here's the newspaper story of the work Clarkson and SUNY Potsdam students did to help her family get a handicapped van in 1974, an effort spearheaded by the brothers of Prometheus. You can read about that first Dance Marathon and the ones that followed on this post.

Prometheus, 1975 SUNY Potsdam yearbook

COURIER & FREEMAN, POTSDAM, N.Y. -TUESDAY, NOV. 12, 1974

Tischler family gets van
Cooperative effort pays dividends

By Mike Kane

Thanks to a grate spirit of generosity and a "never-say-die" attitude, a group of Potsdam State and Clarkson College students has succeeded in raising enough money to buy a van for a local family.

The Albin Tischler family, which has three sons with Muscular Dystrophy, was presented with a new Dodge Sportsman Van on Sunday evening by approximately seventy-five students and townspeople.

$4,700 had been raised during the past year by a group headed by State students Mere Tartaglia and Tom Delaney. Last fall, Tartaglia and Delaney drew up a master plan for the spring semester and called for the support of both State and Clarkson students. The Order of Prometheus, and S.U.C.P. Fraternal Organization that has been a long time friend of the Tischlers, officially backed the effort. With the help of other college groups, the Prometheans ran the events proscribed by Tartaglia and Delaney.

Chronlogically, the activities included: January 31st, Potsdam- Clarkson give up your meal day. Student signed away their meals in the dining halls, and the food services donated fifty cents for each student. That same day, Ago Sorority, Prometheus and other students, delivered pizza and subs for Sergi's Deli Sub, and Dominos. These merchants donated a percentage of that night's sales to the fund.

A dance was held at S.U.C.P. on February 17, with proceeds going towards the van. Three bands donated their time, during which a "Chinese bidding" auction was held for the right to throw pies in the faces of certain students and administrators.

A 32 hour dance marathon was held on April 3, 4, & 5, as six bands and radio station WRPS donated time. The dancers were sponsored by merchants, professors and students, and persons who attended were charged admission.

Last, but by far the least, was the help of Chryster Corporation. They were kind enough to donate $500 and aid in the purchase. Without them, the Tischlers would not yet have their vehicle.

These efforts now make it posib|e for the Tischler boys and their wheelchairs to travel with their family to many more places that had previously been possible. It was only through the hard work of all concerned that-this goal has been achieved.

The sponsors wish to extend their thanks to all persons who contributed, worked and added moral support. Their efforts were not in vain.