By Alexandra Salerno
Editor-In-Chief
St. Bonaventure University partnered with Olean General Hospital to sponsor and host Western New York’s March for Babies walk on Oct. 13. The walk will take place on the Allegheny River Trail. The 2.3 mile walk begins at 11 a.m. following 10 a.m. registration. The March of Dimes, an organization dedicated to providing research funding for healthier babies, has hosted the March for Babies in 900 communities nationwide since 1970.
The Student Government Association (SGA) chose March for Babies as its charity event of the year with the hope every member of the Bonaventure community will participate.
“SGA believes our entire university, including students, faculty and staff, can come together as one united group in support of this great cause,” said Abby Harrington, SGA Vice President.
SGA set a goal to have at least 20 out of the 52 SGA-chartered clubs and organizations participate in the March for Babies according to Student Government Association President Cody Clifford.
“We’re confident that we will reach our goal, and we’re looking forward to giving back to the community,” Clifford said.
According to Clifford, SGA has not had a large-scale, successful charity event in past recent years. SGA will present a grant of $500 to the club or student organization that raises the most money for March for Babies for use at a club or organization event. However, in addition to student participants, faculty and staff are also strongly encouraged to participate in the university-wide event.
The department that raises the most money (per capita) will be awarded a happy hour including pizza, wings and salad for team members in the Rathskeller. A plaque honoring the winning department, to be added to each year, will also be showcased in the Reilly Center. The second place department will win a pizza party, and members of the third place team will receive coupons for a free coffee in Café La Verna.
Olean has previously held March for Babies walks, but this is the first time St. Bonaventure officially sponsored the event. Last year, March of Dimes walkers from Olean raised $65,000. This year, the Western New York chapter of March of Dimes set Olean a goal of raising $75,000.
“The opportunity to partner with local businesses and walking teams to support such a worthwhile and important community endeavor is especially exciting to our students, staff and faculty,” said Rick Trietley, vice provost for Student Life and co-chair of the March for Babies in a news release. “Our beautiful, 500-acre campus will provide the perfect setting for a day of fun, service, physical fitness and teamwork. It is our sincere hope that this year’s March for Babies is the most successful ever.”
Harrington expressed her hope that all members of the Bonaventure community come together with the Olean community to make the event a success.
“St. Bonaventure is a small school, but we have the power to make a lot of noise, and we show that during basketball games,” said Harrington. “This (March for Babies) is the chance for the entire Bonaventure community to come together and make noise for a truly amazing cause.”
One in eight babies are born prematurely in New York. Since 1938, the March of Dimes has been successfully funding healthy starts for babies. Research funded by March of Dimes has led to the cure of polio, and millions of babies have been saved from death or disability because of March of Dimes-funded scientists, 13 of whom are Nobel Prize winners, according to March of Dimes.
Heather Pfeil, March of Dimes community director (WNY), noted many students don’t realize the research March of Dimes affects.
“March of Dimes is an organization that affects everyone, and most people don’t even know it,” said Pfeil. “For example, students may have family members suffering with Alzheimer Disease which falls under the umbrella of research the March of Dimes grants funds to.”
Interested students, staff and faculty who want to form a team can sign up at marchforbabies.org. For more information about March of Dimes visit marchofdimes.com
salernak10@bonaventure.edu
