GrabLife GiveLife raises funds for philanthropic organizations

It’s a race for 20,000 votes.\nTwo IU student organizations, Camp Kesem and IU Dance Marathon, are participating in the GrabLife GiveLife fundraiser for a chance to win $20,000 toward their respective charities. But first, they must get 20,000 votes.\nEach semester, GrabLife GiveLife allows students nationwide to help various philanthropic and charity organizations just with the click of a mouse. College students can vote for any cause they want to once a day, as many days as they wish. Students with a University e-mail address can register for free at www.grablifegivelife.com and start voting.\nCamp Kesem’s event had 570 votes, and IUDM’s golf outing fundraiser had 9, 372 votes as of press time. Both organizations are not competing against each other, but rather hoping to raise money for their respective events. \n“GrabLife GiveLife is a way for us to fundraise for our organization and for college students to vote for the charity that they like,” said senior Matt Hodes, president of IUDM. \nIUDM placed third the past two semesters, with every penny earned going directly to Riley Hospital for Children, the only Indiana hospital serving children under the age of 21 regardless of families’ financial situations, Hodes said. \nThe first organization to reach 20,000 votes or the organization with the most votes by May 1 of this year receives $20,000 for its event, according to the GrabLife GiveLife Web site. Second place receives $5,000 and third place receives $3,000.\n“It is a way for college philanthropies to raise money with the help of their friends at their college,” said senior Lauren Ellis, Camp Kesem co-fundraising chair. Camp Kesem is a group of college students that help and empower children who have a \nparent currently battling cancer, in remission from cancer or has passed away from cancer. \nThe camp is a free, week-long overnight getaway at Waycross Episcopal Camp and Conference Center in Morgantown, Ind., said junior Rachel Firestone, Camp Kesem student support co-coordinator. It allows children to network with others in similar situations and frees them of their daily worries. \n“Camp is magical,” Firestone said. “It gives the children something to look forward to.” \n“Make the Magic” is Camp Kesem’s biggest fundraiser, and the money earned from GrabLife GiveLife would help the Camp Kesem team make the event possible. \n“Make the Magic” is a brunch held in Indianapolis with the goal of raising awareness and asking for donations from family, friends and community members. Donations aid in making the children’s experience cost-free. \n“The children are usually kind of forgotten,” Ellis said. “People forget how much they need help and need to be kids.” \nDespite the race for the most votes, the Dodge-sponsored fundraiser isn’t meant to label one cause better than the other. \n“You don’t have to pick a cause, you can vote for all the causes you want,” Hodes said. “Everything’s a worthy cause.” \nTo help support the community, Hodes said he votes daily for Dance Marathon as well as Camp Kesem. \n“To raise $20,000 is a lot of work,” he said. “We encourage people to help and vote once a day.”