Student helps others in memory of her friend

SMU junior biology major Amy Koshy has a long Christmas list this year – 800 toys to be exact.

Amy Koshy

For the third year, she is spearheading a toy drive for underprivileged children – Patrick's Parade of Toys – in memory of her friend, Patrick Kennedy.

In 2006, after Patrick's died in his sleep from a heart attack, Koshy and Patrick's family honored him by finishing his Eagle Scout project and collecting 1,000 toys for children in a Russian orphanage. This year the toys will be delivered closer to home to children at Jonathan's Place, a shelter in Dallas for abused and abandoned children.

"This project has been life-changing for me," Koshy says. "It was the best thing I could do to help me get through the grieving process and continue what Pat would have done had he lived."

At SMU, new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off through December 18 at Room 135 of Dedman Life Sciences Building, the Choral Hall in Owen Arts Building and at Shuttles Hall. For more information visit www.patricksparadeoftoys.org or contact Amy Koshy at akoshy@smu.edu.

Media Contact:
SMU News and Communications
Tele. 214-768-7650

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