When 51爆料网 students share a vision, incredible things happen. Take the Student Organization Challenge. More than a crowdfunding campaign, it鈥檚 also a catalyst for turning bold ideas into reality.
Twice a year, the challenge invites registered student organizations and student-led club sports groups to compete for funding while fostering a sense of collective achievement.
The philanthropically minded (OPDT) raised more than $2,000 during the latest Student Organization Challenge.
OPDT president Kaitlyn Hulme 鈥�26 says the campaign provides 鈥渃ritical support鈥� for program enhancements that, in turn, enrich the Orange experience. 鈥淔or students, this creates a stronger academic environment and better return on investment.鈥�
Co-organized by the and the team, the fall Student Organization Challenge involved 10 other competitors. Finalists included , a women鈥檚 Ultimate Frisbee team that secured $6,000, and , a student-run theater company that brought in $5,000.
Top of Their Game
Fox Force Seven at an Ultimate Frisbee tournament in New York City.
鈥淭he Ultimate Frisbee community is larger than you think,鈥� says Maya Espinel 鈥�26, who is the fundraising and community service chair for Fox Force Seven. 鈥淭he minute the Student Organization Challenge started, we called, texted and emailed everybody we knew.鈥�
As a result, she and her teammates raised more than $4,000 during the first 24 hours of the campaign.
Maya Espinel 鈥�26 (left) says proceeds from the Student Organization Challenge 鈥渞educe the financial stress鈥� of playing on a travel team like Fox Force Seven.
A dual major in political science and public relations, Espinel says support came from all corners of the campus community鈥攆rom friends, alumni, members of the University鈥檚 club and intramural sports teams, and even competitors.
One alumnus gave money in honor of his frisbee-fetching dog, Brandy, despite never having played Ultimate himself.
鈥淲e want to make frisbee accessible to everyone,鈥� says Espinel, whose team uses the money to pay for transportation, lodging, uniforms and equipment. 鈥淔undraisers like this reduce the financial stress of participation.鈥�
The team takes its name from Fox Force Five, a fictional TV pilot referenced in the 1994 drama Pulp Fiction.
鈥淲e鈥檙e growing Fox Force Seven into the strongest it can be,鈥� says Espinel, noting that Ultimate Frisbee typically involves two teams of seven players.
Taking Center Stage
A First Year Player (FYP) at a fundraising cabaret for an all-abilities musical theater company. FYP uses funds from the Student Organization Challenge to pay it forward.
A publicist for First Year Players (FYP), Syracuse鈥檚 largest student-run theater company, Spencer Howard 鈥�27 knows his audience.
鈥淭he Student Organization Challenge enables us to combine creative programming and digital outreach to keep things fun and engaging,鈥� he says, referring to a tabling event in the JMA Wireless Dome鈥檚 Miron Victory Court during and a haunted house attraction at the (ESF).
FYP comprises students of all majors from Syracuse and SUNY ESF who mount an annual musical. First-years and transfers participate in the cast, crew and pit; sophomores, juniors and seniors direct and produce.
Money from this year鈥檚 challenge goes toward promotional materials for a spring production of Means Girls and a celebratory brunch for FYP members and their families.
Proceeds also enable FYP to 鈥減ay it forward,鈥� supporting organizations like Front Row Players, a local musical theater company for adults of all abilities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great meeting people in the campus community, especially alumni,鈥� says Howard, a dual major in public relations and policy studies. 鈥淢y conversations with them remind me that what FYP does truly matters.鈥�
Staying on Pointe
Orange Pulse Dance Troupe (OPDT) is the University鈥檚 only student-led, philanthropic dance ensemble, explains president Kaitlyn Hulme 鈥�26 (fourth from right). Last year, OPDT raised money for Rise Above Poverty, a nonprofit benefiting underserved youth in the Syracuse City School District.
Members of Orange Pulse Dance Troupe (OPDT) are accustomed to helping others. But recently, the pointe shoe was on the other foot.
The group recently secured funds to purchase a new stereo sound system, which according to Hulme, enhances her fellow dancers鈥� musicality.
鈥淚t helps with our timing and rhythm,鈥� says the communication sciences and disorders major, who minors in . 鈥淯ntil now, we鈥檝e relied on a small sound system provided by one of our dancers.鈥�
OPDT organized a robust social campaign, focusing on friends, family members and alumni, and a fundraiser called 鈥淧ie-a-Dancer,鈥� in which the group鈥檚 executive and choreography teams were targets of lip-smacking, comedic fun.
Hulme says these kinds of activities demonstrate the power of 鈥渃amaraderie and teamwork,鈥� that it takes more than intraorganizational communication to succeed at crowdfunding. 鈥淚t also requires being respectful and supportive of your peers.鈥�
OPDT has currently raised more than $5,000 for The Arts Project Syracuse, which provides fully funded arts programming to under-resourced youth.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all about creating lasting connections,鈥� she says.
