RSO weekly remix

     As the holiday season rolls around, students look for different ways to get involved on campus. Santa’s Miracle Fund may be the answer. The organization benefits under privileged children and tries to give them some Christmas cheer.
     Chris Turner, GCSU junior, created Santa’s Miracle Fund for disabled children at a local hospital while a senior in high school and has continued the project to this day.
     “I was looking for something that would benefit the community,” said Turner. “My mentor, Pamela Witter, helped me get into contact with children at the hospital.”
     The first year of the Santa’s Miracle Fund, Chris and his volunteers did door to door advertising.
     “At the end of the first year, we raised over $5,200 for the fund,” Turner said. “It only takes $100 for each child, so we were able to help out 52 in the first year.”
     Santa’s Miracle Fund became a RSO on campus around April 2006 and has been steadily increasing in growth since then.
     The goal of the fund is a day simply called “The Event.” The children arrive at the hospital with their families, watch a Christmas movie (The Grinch), eat a free lunch and are finally surprised by a visit by Santa.
     “We encourage the families to keep the ending a surprise for the children,” said Turner. “They come up to Santa to tell him what they want and then he announces that today, their dreams will come true.”
     The children are then driven to Toys-R-Us in a limousine, given a $100 gift card and go on a shopping spree.
     However, “The Event” does not come cheap. Santa’s Miracle Fund is always looking for donations and has several fundraising events throughout the year.
     The semi-formal tickets are $10 for an individual or $15 for a couple.
     Santa’s Miracle Fund in conjunction with SGA is bringing the first live boxing tournament to GCSU.
     “The point of the boxing tournament is to get students excited about charity,” said Turner.
     Justin Haight, junior and vice-president of SGA, is excited about the opportunity to help out the fund.
     “We were able to give $3,550 to Santa’s Miracle Fund for the boxing tournament,” Haight said.
     In doing so, SGA is the main sponsor of the event, which will take place on Dec. 1 at the Centennial Center. Sixteen fighters divided into four weight classes will square off in an actual boxing ring for the custom made title belts.
     To join the group, contact Chris Turner or The G.I.V.E. Center.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 16 2007. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry