By Julia Mericle
News Editor
St. Bonaventure will host the March of Dimes March for Babies Oct. 3 with the goal of raising $55,000 for the organization, according to Rick Trietley, vice president for student affairs.
March of Dimes March for Babies walks support research and programs that help mothers have healthy, full-term pregnancies and care for pre-mature babies.
Trietley said the organization gives babies a healthy start as well as assisting in their success during the first couple critical years of life.
“Who can argue with a mission statement to help babies have a healthy start in life?” Trietley said. “Whether you are 80 years old, 20 years old or five years old, everyone loves babies. And everyone knows that babies are the key to our future.”
The Bonaventure-hosted March for Babies raised $47,654 in 2012, $52,414 in 2013 and $50,599 in 2014. Last year, 25 student clubs participated, said Trietley.
Patricia Gould, vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA), said SGA’s goal this year is to have 30 clubs participate and to raise $5,000 from student clubs alone.
Additional donations may come from individual fundraisers from the university and surrounding community, as well as local businesses.
Gould said the March for Babies is important because everyone knows someone affected by premature birth and the expenses that come with it.
According to marchofdimes.org, the average medical cost for a healthy baby is $4,398, while a pre-mature baby requires an average of $54,194 in medical expenses.
Prior to 2012, the March for Babies was held in Olean, until the Buffalo District Office of the March of Dimes suggested it be moved to campus to increase student involvement.
Since then, other campus organizations have gotten involved, such as WSBU-FM, 88.3 The Buzz, which is currently the media sponsor of the event.
According to station manager Jackie Roberts, WSBU-FM raises most of its money through a 24-hour DJ lock-in, from Thursday, Sept. 24 at noon to Friday, Sept. 25 at noon.
Roberts said the cost of participation is $5 per DJ per hour, and all proceeds are given to the March of Dimes.
WSBU-FM’s goal is to raise $200 from this event to donate to March of Dimes.
Roberts said her club’s fundraising strategy is to get more members involved.
“As college students, not many of our peers have tons of money laying around to donate,” Roberts said. “Nonetheless, if we make it a team project, it typically works in our favor.”
Trietley said the March for Babies is a way for students to remember the Franciscan roots of the university and the importance of service.
“Here is a way to give back to a good cause. Here is a way for our students to make a difference,” Trietley said. “When you can do that on a beautiful Saturday and get in a little bit of physical fitness while you are doing it, it just seems to make sense.”
The walk is also a great opportunity for Bonaventure to partner with the surrounding community, according to Trietley.
Several businesses in nearby towns have already donated to the cause, including K-Mart, CUTCO Corporation and Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino in Salamanca.
Roberts said she has had positive experiences at the March for Babies in past years.
“For anyone who’s been to the event, it’s easy to explain why it’s valuable to our students and our campus,” Roberts said. “Watching how happy the families are, listening to parents share their stories, it’s hard to leave without thinking, ‘Wow, I was a part of something really good today.’”
Registration for the walk will begin in front of the Hickey Dining Hall at 9:30 a.m. and the walk will start at 11 a.m.
Students can visit marchofdimes.org and enter the Bonaventure zip code to sign up online and fundraise for the cause.
mericlje13@bonaventure.edu
