BY TUCKER REILLY, MANAGING EDITOR
The Enactus club at St. Bonaventure University is holding its annual “Canvas for a CURE” fundraiser. Enactus is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization that partners with universities for service and development projects.
Allison Lefebre, a junior business administration major, participated in the fundraiser as a freshman and is now its lead organizer. She described the history of Canvas for a CURE and the tangible good that it contributes to.
“Canvas for a CURE is a fundraiser that began in 2015 at Bonaventure, where we raise money for the CURE childhood cancer association, located in Rochester, New York,” said Lefebre. “They help families struggling with the burdens of childhood cancer deal with it mentally and financially. One of the things they offer is helping people pay for certain bills they cannot afford and that’s what the money we’re fundraising will go towards.”
While the actual Canvas for a CURE event has not yet taken place, Enactus members organized a “handprint table” outside of the Reilly Center bookstore this week to raise awareness of the fundraiser. At the table, students and faculty were encouraged to put painted handprints on a sample “CURE” canvas. Joey Gombatto, a junior physical education major and Enactus member, volunteered at the table Wednesday afternoon.
“It was a really good experience, and we got a lot of people to come out,” said Gombatto. I was happy because I believe in the cause, and I think this will help raise support.”
While fundraising is a central goal of Canvas for a CURE, Lefebre explained one of the unique features of the event: the canvases themselves.
“For it to be a little more interactive, we plan a big event where donors can paint canvases that will be given to Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester,” said Lefebre. “For the first time, we’ll be holding the event at The Burton, to try and get the community more involved. Our goal this year is to paint over 300 canvases, so we want to get as many people as possible.”
Enactus was unable to hold Canvas for a CURE last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving organizers concerned about student interest in the event.
“It is so wonderful to see so many Bonaventure students working on Canvas. It has always been one of our top Enactus projects,” said Todd Palmer, chair of the management department and head of Enactus at Bonaventure. “I was worried that two years of pandemic inactivity would make it impossible to recruit people to help but we have about 20 members working on it and you can tell that it is important to them. It makes you feel so good.”
Lefebre echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the large turnover of Enactus members since the last Canvas for a CURE.
“It was definitely more difficult to start this back up in the wake of COVID-19,” said Lefebre. “Everyone who was doing it my freshman year is gone, so we did have to start from scratch in a lot of ways. Getting the word out about Enactus – because we’re always open for new members – is really important to us, especially for events like this.”
The Burton event will be held on Nov. 6 from 3-7 p.m., with a $5 donation cover to receive a canvas. Donors who give $15 dollars will receive a canvas, burger and fries.
reillyt19@bonaventure.edu
