Business students are uniting for United Way, with a couple of new initiatives – the MBA Day of Caring and Spinsation 2009 - and the return of a crowd-pleasing, if chilly, favourite – Chillin’ for Charity.
In an effort to spur their colleagues on to better health, three undergraduate students at the Alberta School of Business at the University of Alberta are combining fun, fitness and fundraising with a new spin.
Spinsation 2009
“Spinsation 2009 will bring together various student groups and faculty associations from across campus to participate in a 24-hour spin cycling session Oct. 29-30 at SUB stage in the name of charity and wellness,” said Marie Pigarowa, one of the organizers.
Spinsation will be chasing the heels of another popular United Way fundraiser, Chillin’ For Charity Polar Bear Swim, back for the fourth year on Nov. 4 in the Main Quad at the U of A campus.
Marie, along with “inspired spinsationalists” Katie Berg and Jessica Leung teamed up with corporate partner Nestea to raise money for a charity of their choice. Wanting to give back to their peers through an innovative and fun fundraiser, while promoting a message of health and wellness on campus, the three set a goal to raise $10,000 for the United Way by enabling other students and groups on campus to get involved.
Chillin’ for Charity
Days later, about 100 students, faculty and “Amit The Intern” from local radio station The Bounce are expected to jump into an icy cold pool for Chillin’ For Charity.
That event has raised over $70,000 in the past 3 years and is organized solely by a group of BCom students on the Jeux Du Commerce West team, as part of the largest undergraduate business competition in Western Canada. This competition draws teams from 11 different Western Canadian universities in mid-January and each school team will host their own event to raise funds for their chosen charity throughout November.
“Chillin’ for Charity is an incredible opportunity for students to get involved in the community and raise money for an important charity in a fun-filled way,” said Event Chair Alecia Langlois.
MBA Day of Caring
Forty-five MBA students volunteered in a different way Sept. 28 during the first MBA Day of Caring when they volunteered for Homeless Connect, an event to help homeless people and others in need.
The students, plus several staff from the MBA program office, met at the United Way’s InKind Centre to sort clothes and personal care items in preparation for Homeless Connect Oct. 4 , an event which offered those in need with a full spectrum of services including housing resources, legal help, health services, personal care a comfort kit with hygiene items.
“Not all students can donate money but we can donate time and our efforts, which is just as valuable a resource to many charitable organizations,” said Katrina Bonnycastle, President of the MBA Association.
About United Way
The campus-wide United Way campaign kick off was on Sept. 26th and ends on Oct. 30th. The University has currently raised $406,000 towards an overall goal of $630,000 by the end of December.
The United Way contributes to a large number of social agencies in the Edmonton Capital region with an emphasis on preventative initiatives that build capacity at the community level and address human social issues.
For more information, contact:
Jamie Hanlon
Public Affairs Associate, University of Alberta
78.492.9214
jamie.hanlon@ualberta.ca
Monica Wegner
Communications Strategist
Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta
780.492.7996
monica.wegner@ualberta.ca
Alecia Langlois
Event Chair, Chillin’ for Charity
780.909.6574
alecia@ualberta.ca
Marie Pigarowa
Organizer, Spinsation
780.920.0864
pigarowa@ualberta.ca
Lorna Hallum
United Way Campaign Coordinator, University of Alberta
780.492.8034
lorna.hallum@exr.ualberta.ca