On December 18, a check of $8,300 collected through various fundraising activities and donations was delivered to The Troy Record for the Rensselaer Union’s 2008 Clothe-A-Child campaign. The funds generated are going to provide warm winter clothing such as coats, boots, hats, and gloves for 83 needy children from this area (with $100 to benefit each child). The campaign surpassed this year’s goal by $3,300, thanks to numerous efforts of RPI students collaborating with the campaign.
According to The Troy Record, the Rensselaer Union has been a partner in raising money for Clothe-A-Child for 33 years of its 34-year history. The campaign has developed into a year-round initiative with numerous events raising money. Originally, the campaign consisted of only contributions from students who donated change from purchases at the Rensselaer Union.
One particular fundraising event that occurred was Canisters, going from November to December, where small donations could be made in Father’s Marketplace, the Post Office in the Games Room, the Houston Field House during hockey games, and at various locations during the Victorian Stroll at the end of last semester. Another event is the Clothe-A-Child Bake Sale held December 3–4 coordinated with the Bookstore’s Holiday Sale, in which campus staff baked delicious holiday treats. The Basket Raffle, a week-long event, was a success this year, with 16 baskets sold. This year’s theme was “Our Favorite Past Times!” Other donators were the Young Actors Guild; the Arnold Air Society, who dedicated all proceeds from their annual fundraiser to Clothe-A-Child; and the Community Service Committee, which collected donations at the Victorian Stroll’s Children’s Corner for Clothe-A-Child.
Other events have pulled in donations as well. This Friday, following the hockey game at 9:30 pm to midnight, the Clothe-A-Child Date Auction will be held in the McNeil Room. Each date will receive four tickets to the Big Red Freakout to add more incentive. This year, Bianca Zongrone ’10 will be the hostess for the evening. Grand Marshal Kara Chesal ’09 is the student organizer of the event. If you would like to be auctioned off, e-mail her at chesak@rpi.edu.
More events are being held in the coming months. Wing Tasting! will be held February 28 from 2–4 pm in the McNeil Room. Last year, the event offered a variety of raffle prizes for students and featured chicken wings from 11 local vendors, who competed for the coveted title of Best Wings on Campus. This new event raised $1,140 by the end of the day, although it was expected to raise only $1,000, according to Business Administrator of the Union Martha McElligott, who has served as chair of the Clothe-A-Child committee at RPI. Several students, including members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, volunteered to help set up and serve food. Wings offered by Brown’s Brewing Company, a city brewery and restaurant, ended up being the students’ favorite, taking first place in the competition.
Another event that did well last year was the Student Appreciation and Volunteer Recognition Dinner, in which deserwving students were served by the faculty. This year, the event will be held March 24 in Russell Sage Dining Hall.
Having raised the most funds this year, McElligott is very optimistic about future Clothe-A-Child Campaigns. With rising student awareness of the cause, more student involvement will lead to greater money raised to help needy children, according to McElligott.
