Students from the Full-Time MBA program at Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business used a variety of creative tactics to raise more than $13,000 in donations for the Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB).
Students and staff from the MBA program at the Broad College of Business along with the college’s dean, Sanjay Gupta, present Joe Wald, the Greater Lansing Food Bank’s executive director, with a check for the funds raised by the MBA students’ class competition
The money was raised from two separate campaigns this semester. The first charity campaign is organized annually by the Broad MBA Association (MBAA) as a yearly competition between the first-year MBA students and the second-year MBA students. The second campaign was a first-time event in the college that raised money through the selling of slices of pie on campus that were donated by The Grand Traverse Pie Company.
Last year, the MBAA used a “Penny Wars” competition and a charity Date Auction as the main fundraisers and raised about $6,500. This year, the students added three new events: a poker tournament, a trivia night, and an outing to a Grand Rapids Griffins hockey game. Combined, these competitions raised $11,875.
“Our inspiration for the new events was to continue to fulfill MBAA’s purpose by providing opportunities for students to build personal relationships beyond the classroom through social outings, while at the same time raising more funds than our event expenses,” said Brandon Jones, the MBAA vice president of community events.
Joe Wald, the Greater Lansing Food Bank’s executive director, thanks students for their donation
The pie campaign, which was done in conjunction with national Pi Day, raised $1,370. Over the course of four days, MBA students sold more than 352 slices of pie to students, faculty, and staff in the Broad College of Business.
“This gift from the Broad College MBA students is very special for a number of reasons,” said Joe Wald, the Greater Lansing Food Bank’s executive director.
“First, it is beyond comprehension that full-time students would take on a cause like this on their own time and achieve such impressive results. Second, it is testament to the quality of people who are attracted to MSU and specifically the Broad College MBA program. Third, the magnitude of this gift will make a positive difference in many lives in our community,” Wald said.
“All I can say is thank you, on behalf of those in need whose lives you will touch,” he said.
Elizabeth Richter, an MBA student at the Broad College of Business, right, and Cheri DeClercq, assistant dean for MBA programs at Broad sell pies to raise money for the Greater Lansing Food Bank
MBA student Aaron French, who organized the pie selling fundraiser, offers his sales pitch to students
