A club, a cause, an event worth going to

The Champlain Campus is starting to buzz about a fundraising event that is being organized by the college's International Development Club to help raise money for a local non-profit Global Reach Partnerships.

Students have gotten sponsorships, a venue, and are recruiting local high school basketball players to participate in a Slam Dunk competition -- all to benefit an organization that is focused on helping refugees connect with mentors and role models here in Vermont. The Slam for Sudan is the event and here is what they have done so far:

1. Created a Website: http://www.theslamforsudan.org/
2. Created a Facebook Fan Page
3. Created a Facebook Event
4. Created a Twitter Account

They have also garnerned some great sponsorships:

1. Ben and Jerry's


2. Jay Peak


3. Ralph Lauren


4. Bogner


5. Essex Shops and Cinema


6. The Inn at Essex


7. Eating Well


8. Late Night Saturday


9. CHAMP Radio Station


10. The Links at Lang Farm


11. Champlain College

What I love about this is the fact that students on campus are fired up about this. The organizers are passionate and excited. They are working to connect as many people as possible to a cause that they believe in. It's a great example of how passion can help drive forward an idea. The idea itself, to involve local high school basketball players from around Vermont and to get sponsorships for the different segments of the event and give out prizes...Wow! (note the different parts)

The BEN AND JERRY'S Slam Dunk Contest

and

The JAY PEAK 3 Point Shoot Out

It's a wonderful blend of marketing techniques for a good cause that is local and helps make a difference.

The event is on March 25th and it will be interesting to not only watch the club utilize different marketing techniques to publicize the event, but to watch the community get involved to help an organization that is there for a new group of people who have come to and become part of our community.

Two of Champlain's faculty, Tom Myers and Scott Baker are board members with Global Reach Partnerships and several of us have students from the club in our classes.

So take a few minutes to check out this charity event and if you are local -- sign up! And if you aren't local, plan a trip to Vermont at the end of March. And if you can't do that, use their PAYPAL donation tool to donate some money to help this important organization do their work. Friend them on Facebook, visit their website, add their event, follow their twitter!