MBA United Way Day of Caring
October 02, 2009
By Karen Baird
MBA students and program staff gathered at the United Way's InKind Centre Sept. 28 for a morning of volunteering
Members of the MBA Association volunteered Sept. 28 to sort items for Homeless Connect
Forty-five students gave their hearts to the community 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 goal of the MBA Association was to start an annual initiative as a way to give back to the community. Part of being successful in business is recognizing that not everyone is as fortunate as we are and giving something back to those who need help,” said Katrina Bonnycastle, President of the MBA Association.
The students, plus several staff from the MBA program office, met at the at the United Way’s InKind Centre Sept. 28 to sort clothes and personal care items in preparation for Homeless Connect Oct. 4 at the Shaw Conference Centre.
The day will offer a full spectrum of services including housing resources, legal help, health services, personal care a comfort kit with hygiene items.
This will be the third such event, with approximately 2,000 people expected to attend, said Wendy Myshak, Project Coordinator for Homeless Connect.
“Because it’s such a huge event with so many aspects, it’s difficult for any one group to do everything. Even five people coming for an hour to sort clothes makes a difference,” she said. “It was great that a group as big as the MBAs could donate that much time, especially when they’re in school and so busy. It shows you can still care about your community and contribute and fit it into your schedule.
“It makes a big difference in people’s lives to have our community volunteer’s help us get ready for this day,” said Wendy. “The MBA group is leading by example because they’ll be future leaders themselves.”
Katrina said while this is not the only way the MBAs are involved with the United Way, it is the first year for the MBA Day of Caring and the group’s largest turnout for a single volunteer event. “We hope that the Day of Caring continues as an annual event and that other MBA programs across the country will join in future years,” she said.
“In business, there are profits, social outcomes and environmental outcomes and it’s important to keep that triple bottom line in mind when you’re conducting yourself in the community. Business is not solely about the financial bottom line. We are taught this from day one of the MBA program but it feels great to put that into action and know we are making a difference.”
Usually, groups of people from a workplace will volunteer to come to the InKind Centre but this was the first time a group of students participated, said Melanie Popowich, Manager of Discovery with United Way. “They get a chance to learn what the need is in the community and agencies can get so much help in a small amount of time,” she said.
Katrina said the students learned they could give back to the community and had a great bonding experience with lots of fun.
“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,” she said.
About the Alberta MBA
The Alberta MBA is built on Alberta tradition: great ideas, hard work and outstanding people. A host of degree options, coupled with small class sizes, an applied hands-on learning style, and close ties to nearly 20,000 alumni and the business community, translate into incredible opportunities for our students.
The 2009 Financial Times of London MBA rankings released in January showed the Alberta MBA placed at an all-time high of 77th globally, up 11 places from last year’s high of 88th. The Alberta MBA was tops in Canada for value for money, career progress and aims achieved. The Financial Times of London is the world’s leading benchmark for business school rankings.
About Homeless Connect
Homeless Connect Edmonton is a broad-based community-inspired initiative, providing free appropriate services to homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless, on one day and at one location. Its mission is to provide services that help open doors out of homelessness, build lasting partnerships, raise public awareness and provide a vehicle for community involvement in addressing the issue of homelessness. Services include mental health assessments, library services, foot care, haircuts, immunizations, birth control, pre-natal support, laundry, housing information, employment and training services and much more.
About InKind Centre
United Way’s InKind Centre offers an innovative approach to businesses looking to meet community needs through smart business practices. By combining corporate donations of high quality surplus items, ends-of-lines, seasonal items and loyalty points with strategic bulk purchasing programs, The InKind Centre is able to offer charitable organizations a variety of operational resources at a fraction of fair market value.
For further information, contact:
Karen Baird
Public Affairs Associate
Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta
780.492.8695
karen.baird@ualberta.ca
Monica Wegner
Communications Strategist
Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta
780.492.7996
monica.wegner@ualberta.ca