Allied Churches in Alamance County and the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance and Sport Management were beneficiaries of efforts from students in an Elon service-learning course.
Students in Associate Professor Hal Walker’s fall semester “Event Management” class organized two events that raised $2,600 combined for two North Carolina nonprofit organizations.
“Elon’s Got Talent” was held Nov. 15 in Lakeside Dining Hall and raised $1,100 for Allied Churches in Burlington, N.C. “Casino Night” took place at the Raleigh Convention Center on Nov. 21.
Allied Churches, under the leadership of Executive Director Kim Crawford, has experienced increased demand with the closing of Loaves & Fishes Christian Food Ministry earlier in 2013. Crawford and Elon University President Leo M. Lambert served as judges of several Elon performance groups at the program.
Elon’s Fun Fund, an Elon Coke Grant, and gifts from local businesses including Krispy Kreme, Dominos, Papa John’s, Cici’s Pizza, Qdoba, Carousel Cinema, Bed Bath & Beyond, Lowes Foods, Harris Teeter, Walmart, Moonberries, and La Fiesta supported the event.
“Casino Night” took place at the Raleigh Convention Center in conjunction with the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance and Sport Management annual conference. Attendees took part in traditional casino games with participants having the opportunity to win gift baskets of donated items. “Casino Night” raised $1,500 for student scholarships through the alliance.
Jason Averill of the Challenge Golf Club, Bobby Herndon of Salon Ten Thirty Nine, Cameron Nails & Spa, Elon Athletics, Omega Sports, Carousel Cinemas, Buffalo Wild Wings, Zoes Kitchen, and Xcell Nutrition contributed donations that made the event a success.
Pocono Raceway made a financial contribution toward the evening, along with Daniel Walker from Lighthouse Resort Services for his “Beach House, Golf, & Wild Horse Tour” silent auction gift.
The annual Sport and Event Management service-learning class has raised almost $45,000 in the past 10 years in support of a wide variety of local causes while students learn about event management, leadership and the importance of civic engagement.