With four weeks remaining to raise $2,000, the ESU Student Foundation is enlisting the help of local Emporia businesses.
On Friday, April 22, the businesses will launch social media campaigns to secure donations for the Student Foundation, which uses its funds to help fellow students with financial emergencies. The business that raises the most money during the blitz will receive a unique student-designed trophy.
“And the winning business gets bragging rights,” said Amy McMillin, a junior from Wamego and new Student Foundation president.
So far, 10 businesses have signed on to the challenge:
- Brickyard 20 Ale House
- Emporia Main Street
- French Lily
- Genesis Health Clubs
- Gravel City Roasters
- High Gear Cyclery
- Midas Touch Golden Tans
- Radius Brewery
- Rhinestones and Rust
- Sweet Granada
Each business will have a unique, secure online link for donations. They will share that link on their social media channels throughout the day. The campaign will run from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. April 22. After 10 p.m., donations will be totaled to determine the winner.
The Student Foundation operates its Hornet Opportunity Award Fund to aid fellow students who have exhausted all other forms of financial aid and assistance and who are at-risk of not completing their education at Emporia State. A recent recipient — a graduate student studying in the School of Business — couldn’t pay her tuition after her family disappeared during a coup d’etat in her home country of Burkina Faso. Because of the Hornet Opportunity Award, she was able to stay on campus and will graduate this year.
In October 2015, the Student Foundation was one of five student organizations to receive a challenge grant from an anonymous donor. The challenge — raise $20,000 by the end of the academic 2015-16 academic year and receive a matching gift of $20,000. The challenge was issued to honor Gary Sherrer, long-time supporter of Emporia State and a former member of the Kansas Board of Regents as well as the ESU Foundation of which the Student Foundation is a part.
To meet their goal, Foundation students have organized a barbecue rib sale and “March Matchness,” a competition among the professional staff of the ESU Foundation to see who could raise the most money from their personal networks.
Now, with the May 13 end of the semester just four weeks away, the students have only $2,000 left to raise to meet the challenge.
“We’re in the home stretch and are excited that Emporia businesses have agreed to partner with us,” said McMillin. “Their support is invaluable — and we think they can have lots of fun reaching out to their own audiences as well as challenging each other to succeed.”
Want to donate in person?
If you want to donate, but aren’t near a computer, you can call the ESU Foundation at 620-341-5440, email annualfund@emporia.edu or stop by 1500 Highland St. between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, April 22.
Just make sure you indicate for which business team you want your donation to be counted.