IUSF Class Campaigns raise money to assist charitable organizations

With the holiday season fast approaching, members of the IU Student Foundation are working hard to help those in need.

Class Campaigns, a new philanthropic committee, involves IUSF students working with others in their graduating class to design and carry out a philanthropic campaign of their choice.

“We wanted to create new ways for student involvement and help students learn about a variety of things,” said Jenny Bruffey, IUSF director.

Among the philanthropies chosen this semester were the Hoosier Legacy Fund, Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, Students in Free Enterprise and Jill’s House.

“We made up a list of different organizations that we could work with,” said senior Molly Jorgensen. “We wanted to find something that would involve both the campus and the Bloomington community.”

Each class is divided up and led by a senior member of the IUSF steering committee. Members then agree on an organization and think of strategies for fundraising and volunteering.

The Senior Class Campaign, led by senior Taylor Morton, has decided upon a campaign to educate seniors on the importance of private donations to the University.

The goal is to have as many seniors as possible represent their graduating class by donating $20.09 to the Hoosier Legacy Fund, which is used to support student-oriented projects and programs throughout the Bloomington campus.

Hoping to raise at least $10,000 this semester, IUSF is hosting a private Black and White Gala and inviting select senior student leaders to attend, as well as accepting donations throughout the semester, according to a press release.

The Junior Class Campaign, led by senior Kyla King, has decided to work with Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County.

“We thought it was a great place with a great reputation,” King said. “We saw it as an opportunity to fundraise and volunteer as well as see what Habitat does.”

Each member of the junior committee is collecting donations, as well as selling cut-out paper houses to sign and display. The houses will act as raffle tickets to enter in the drawing for a basketball signed by men’s basketball coach Tom Crean.

The Sophomore Class Campaign, led by senior Amber Hawkins, is working with the Fair Trade Bloomington organization, Students in Free Enterprise, a non-profit organization that educates people on concepts like market economics, entrepreneurship and business ethics through educational outreach projects. They also promote the use of fair trade products.

To raise funds, members will sell equal exchange fair trade coffee this Saturday before the football game, behind the DeVault Alumni Center.

“The proceeds will go to help raise money for the Fair Trade Store that is opening in Bloomington in fall 2009,” Hawkins said. “Our overall goal is to raise at least $2,000.”

The Freshman Class Campaign, lead by Jorgensen, chose Jill’s House, named after former IU student Jill Behrman, who was killed in 2000.

Jill’s House is a temporary residence for patients undergoing outpatient therapy at the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute in Bloomington.

The committee is raising funds by asking for donations, and this Sunday is hosting a party for the patients to help raise their spirits as well as provide two new refrigerators for the home.

“When patients leave the house, they take an exit survey. They have had a lot of comments about not having enough refrigerators,” Jorgensen said. “We want to help change that.”

King feels the creation of the new class campaigns has been successful thus far and hopes that they continue for future semesters.

“It is really important that students give back to IU,” Bruffey said. “Once they become alumni, they will have a further connection and become a part of the IU family.”