Orange Navy is a student pride organization that began in early 2011 with a mission of bringing awareness to the Auburn community by providing financial assistance to students through scholarship.
The idea was formulated during Auburn's 2010 national championship season with the musical venture of Francis Aihe, an Auburn graduate in public administration and former basketball player.
While experimenting to remix Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow" in 2011, Aihe collaborated with former Auburn football player and Chicago Bears offensive tackle AJ Greene to produce a beat for a song that would become known as "Orange Navy Anthem."
"What started out as a song quickly evolved into a lifestyle reflected through colors that gave Auburn an identity as a whole," Aihe said.
The organization hopes to provide students with another option of getting involved by showing school spirit and establishing a long-lasting tradition that will separate Auburn from other universities.
Speaking with Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs, faculty members of the Auburn Athletics Department, and the University's marketing department were the first steps toward ensuring the University's support of the organization's fundraising activities.
The murder of three Auburn students at an off-campus event have hit home for the Orange Navy staff and have inspired a new direction for the organization's fundraising efforts.
Aihe learned of Saturday night's shooting through Greene the following morning while on vacation with friend and former Auburn rack athlete, Johnathon Haynes.
Haynes, senior in industrial design, created the website and tee shirt designs for Orange Navy.
On his way back to Auburn, Aihe recalled a common belief that he and Haynes share with each other: there is always something you can do to make a difference.
"I began praying on what God wanted me to do in this situation because it is in my heart to help people," Aihe said. "He put it in my heart to start a fund to help the families pay for the funeral expenses of my friends who lost their lives."
All proceeds of the fundraiser will go to the families of Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips to cover funeral expenses and relieve the families of any other financial burdens during this time.
"I feel great knowing that we are able to help shed some light during these rough times," Haynes said.
"Orange Navy allows us to come together as one voice that represents the University and to show these families how much their lives meant to us as friends and as being apart of the Auburn family."
A PayPal link has been created for the cause, making donations easy for those wishing to help the grieving families.
The link can be found on the organization's twitter account, TeamOrangeNavy and also through several posts on Facebook.
Jenna Malphrus, senior in public relations, is responsible for Orange Navy's media relations.
"I am personally humbled to not only be apart of Orange Navy, but also a part of this gracious donation effort," said Malphrus, who also knew Christian and Phillips personally.
"Every person that donates is blessing those families more than they can comprehend," Malphrus said.
The Auburn Family Relief Fund is only a stepping stone for what Orange Navy hopes to achieve in the future regarding this tragedy.
Plans are in the works toward creating a scholarship in the memory of Ed Christian.
Christian became an inspiration for the idea through his continued dedication to his education and the Auburn spirit even after his football career was cut short due to back problems.
Timber Mosley, a student at Arkansas State University, is also a contributor to Orange Navy planning and development who knew Christian well.
On Tuesday, June 12, Mosley spoke with the victim's parents, Ansonya and Ed Christian Sr., who received the plans well.
"(Christian's) mom and dad loved the idea that through him, someone else will have the opportunity to accomplish the same dream of graduating from Auburn University," Mosley said.
Upon approval, this student financial aid will be known as the Ed Christian Scholarship and will be made available to students of the high school that Christian attended, Lowndes High School of Valdosta, Georgia, in hopes of keeping his memory alive.
The organization also hopes to establish an Orange Navy Scholarship Foundation.
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