By Julia Mericle
News Assignment Editor
The Give Back Bash, a two-day event hosted by ENACTUS, raised nearly $4,000 this past weekend.
The money will be split between CURE, an organization that raises money to support the families of children with cancer, and the family of an Olean boy who was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer.
ENACTUS is an international, nonprofit organization that connects business leaders and university students through community service projects.
Previously, ENACTUS has fundraised for CURE through events such as Canvas 4 a CURE earlier this year.
“We originally planned on donating all of our proceeds to CURE until a few weeks into the semester when we found out about a little boy in the community who needed our help,” Ariana Buzzelli, a member of the ENACTUS Leadership Team, said.
The Give Back Bash consisted of the Black Light Bash, Fluorescent 5k and Shoot 4 Strength 3 on 3 basketball tournament.
The Black Light Bash, a black light dance party held in The Rathskeller on April 17, attracted around 100 students, according to Buzzelli, a junior marketing major. The party raised $578.50 through a $3 cover charge and additional donations. Buzzelli said the club was pleased with the turn out.
Sixty-eight runners participated in the Fluorescent 5k, a run which looped around the Allegheny River Trail, on April 18. The run, which cost $15 per participant, brought in $1,105.
According to Kathryn O’Malley, a member of the ENACTUS Leadership Team, ENACTUS was lucky to have a cross-country runner in the group that planned the Fluorescent 5k.
“[Margaret Schunk] had a lot of experience running races and brought good ideas to the table, such as water stations along the trail and a race clock at the finish line,” O’Malley, junior marketing and management major, said. “I don’t think we would have thought of those elements if it weren’t for her.”
Buzzelli said ENACTUS members were happy with the participation in their first annual 5k, but hopes it grows in future years.
“We plan on expanding next year by reaching out to even more people and allowing people to pay ahead of time online with a credit card so that they are more likely to show up for the race after registering online,” Buzzelli said.
Shoot 4 Strength, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament held on April 18, had 16 teams. Profits reached $320 from the tournament and raised nearly $1,200 in donations.
Hannah Pingelski, a freshman undecided business major, was in charge of the tournament.
According to Stephanie Jenkins, a junior management major, some challenges of planning the tournament included logistics, such as contacting people and ensuring that everything was set for the right place and time. She said the ENACTUS Leadership Team worked hard to fundraise, promote the events and make sure all the participants had fun.
“We knew that people loved playing 3 on 3 basketball and a little competition would make it fun for the participants and at the same time we were able to raise money for childhood cancer,” Jenkins said.
According to Jenkins, ENACTUS hopes to continue the Give Back Bash annually.
“With the success it had, I am excited to see where it goes next year.”
