COVER STORY
Lending a Helping Hand
Broad Students Take Philanthropic Activity Seriously
By Jennifer V. Higgins
Photography by Kim Kauffman
It's often said that the Broad School revolves around people. In the wake of the recent tragedies that befell our nation, charitable acts are a hot topic for many Americans. While Broad School students, faculty, and staff did offer their time and financial support, it is important to recognize that a large number of students are always involved in philanthropic activity. Here we will highlight a few activities initiated by a group of exceptional people--Broad School undergraduate and graduate students.
Charitable donations are perhaps the way that most people contribute to philanthropy. While they are welcome, and very necessary, a gift of time is often far more valuable to the organizations in need.
Despite their hectic schedules of class work, studying, internships, and job searching, Broad MBA students are committed to philanthropic work. In fact, their involvement has become not only a class tradition but another trait that sets Broad students apart from many of their peers.
Food Fight Heavyweights
Each year, the MBA Association participates in a national competition to gather food for hunger-relief organizations. It's called the MBA Food Fight, and Broad competes with 20 other top MBA programs from around the country. This year the Broad School took first place for the third year in a row in the "pounds collected per student" category. They collected 550 pounds per student, which was five times as much as second place University of Chicago's 113 pounds per student.
To help collect the food, this year's chairperson, Kelly Ritter, MBA '02, and the committee coordinated several activities. Their creative ideas for raising funds and collection far surpassed the food-drive box placed in the office common room.
In the fall, a bowling event was organized. MBA students, faculty, and staff paid $5 to bowl or brought five cans of food, raising $580 or 4,060 pounds of food. In addition, an anonymous faculty member sponsored "Bowling for Bucks," where $2 was contributed for every strike. A total of $150 dollars was raised.
During the school day, a candy table was set up. Students volunteered to sell candy in between classes raising $1,000. Toward a more traditional method, a community food drive was carried out. MBA students collected 2,187 pounds of food from residents throughout the university and Greater Lansing community. To combine work and fun, students raised $330 with "reverse trick-or-treating" where MBAs dressed up on Halloween and gave handfuls of candy to Broad faculty and staff in exchange for donations.
However, the bulk of their contribution was accomplished by teaming with corporations. This year there were three corporate participants: Meijer Foods donated 46,430 pounds of food, Kellogg donated 29,818 pounds, and Spartan Stores--One Source donated 22,436 pounds. "As a Broad MBA alumni, putting students in touch with the right people is the classic example of one of the things alumni can do to help in efforts such as this," said John Maguire, MBA '95, Operations Business Partner for Natural and Frozen Foods Division of Kellogg.
Auction to Fight Cancer
In the spring, the MBA Association continued their philanthropic commitment with an annual charity auction. This year, they raised $10,125. This fundraiser is a live auction where MBA students, faculty, and staff bid on items and events, purchase raffle tickets, and make personal donations. Proceeds from the auction will go to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation to further Neuroblastoma research. The MBA Association first directed their funds to this organization in 2001 in honor of Broad faculty member Dr. Morgan Swink's daughter who continues to fight cancer.
"The Charity Auction fosters competition among the MBA first and second year students," said Heidi Wenger, MBA '02, and chair of this year's event. "It has become something that we all feel personally connected to in our efforts to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer."
Helping a Family in Need
The National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and the Native American and Hispanic Business Students (NAHBS)--both organizations under Multicultural Business Students--teamed up to sponsor a family through the winter holiday season. They selected a family of six from the Salvation Army Tree. They raised funds and purchased gifts and gift certificates, made stockings, and donated clothing and food gift certificates for their family.
NABA and NAHBS were not satisfied with this singular involvement. The members prepared baskets for the Easter holiday and continue to help the family today.
"We decided to extend our support for this family throughout the year," says Armand Sawyer, graduate advisor to NABA.
A Place to Call Home
In addition to the Food Fight and the Charity Auction, the MBA Association and individual students continually coordinate several activities that benefit the community. This year, the MBA Association hosted a Euchre Party. Unlike past events, this year they added a philanthropic twist. MSU Safe Place was the recipient of half the entry fees. "The original purpose was to mix first and second year students," commented Ritter. "We decided to make it a fundraiser, too."
In a show of school spirit and fun, Iran Naqvirra, first year MBA student, coordinated the first-ever Talent Show with support from the MBA Association to raise money for MSU Safe Place and to increase awareness of domestic violence. The Talent Show offered a platform to educate students about various backgrounds and to display their talents.
Each year, members of the MBA Association volunteer for Habitat for Humanity one day per semester. The group volunteers their time to work at a home designated by the MSU Habitat for Humanity organization.
Undergraduates Shine
MBA students are not the only members of the Broad School committed to helping the community. Several undergraduate organizations are active philanthropists as well. Like many people around the world, the events of September 11, 2001 had a huge impact on the Broad School and Michigan State University.
Students and alumni from The School of Hospitality Business decided to donate part of the proceeds of their 11th Annual Auction, to the Twin Tower Fund, which was established by mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. The Fund will assist, support, and recognize the families of the members of the uniformed services of the New York City Fire Department and its Emergency Medical Service Command, the New York City Police Department, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New York State Office of Court Administration, and other government personnel who lost their lives or were injured.
"The Auction cxecutive and alumni boards wanted to show our concern and support to the families of the victims. These events have shaped the future of our generation and we hope that this donation will show the families that their loved ones will not be forgotten," says Ann Dore and Alli Leech, student-CEOs of Auction 2002.
Members of Eta Sigma Delta, the honorary society of The School, take on at least one philanthropic project each semester. Last semester, the group collected 550 cans of food for the MSU foodbank, which distributed their contributions to foreign students and others who were unable to go home for the holidays. The collection is set up as a competition between the classes. This year the seniors won after collecting 300 cans of food.
In addition, students volunteered at Ele's Place, a center for grieving children who have lost a loved one. Twenty members of Eta Sigma Delta volunteered at the Ele's Place Christmas Party to do holiday craft projects with approximately 110 children.
Get Involved
Students today are more overextended than ever before. Most of them juggle class work and families with part- or full-time jobs, yet still find time in their busy schedules to help out their fellow man. Their commitment to philanthropy is truly a fine example for the rest of us.
"When we go to college, we're doing something for ourselves," commented Dana Pososki, MBA '01 and 2001 chair of the MBA Charity Auction. "Involvement in philanthropic activities is to help others. As students, we learn a lot from professors and get a lot of support from the community. This is a way to say thanks."
If you would like additional information regarding any of the philanthropic activities in this article, please contact Kristen Lare Flory, editor, via email flory@bus.msu.edu.