The 2010–2011 Help us save some lives! Campus Challenge closed on April 1, and more campus communities participated than ever before. This year, 397 colleges and universities submitted more than $232,900 in donations. Additionally, the first $150,000 raised was matched by the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF, creating a total contribution of more than $380,000 through the program.
In its third year as a partnership between the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF, and ACUI, the Help us save some lives! Campus Challenge was a fundraising challenge on college campuses from Aug. 1, 2010 to April 1, 2011. Contributions to the program support UNICEF’s lifesaving work in more than 150 countries.
The top three fundraising campuses this year were all new to the rankings, and student representatives from each group were able to attend the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Annual Meeting in April to be recognized and to learn more about the work of the organization. The top three institutions also were able to choose from a variety of incentives.
The first place winners of the Campus Challenge, The Ohio State University raised $11,044 through its UNICEF Campus Initiative club. The group’s most significant fundraising program was born from their collaboration with the Muslim Student Association, resulting in more than $5,000 raised for flood victims in Pakistan. By working together with other groups on campus, students were able to engage the greater student population in a significant way.
In second place, Stony Brook University raised $8,312, which they attribute to their commitment, outreach, and creativity. One of their most successful fundraisers was the sale of Manhattan-based “Chicken N’ Rice” platters on campus. This campaign, “Platters for Pakistan,” raised awareness and brought in more than $2,000 in one evening.
The third place campus was Loyola University–Chicago, which raised $7,629. There, the UNICEF Campus Initiative club collaborated with university departments, faculty, and students. Discovering that their campus community responds well when emergencies strike, the group was able to maximize their success by hosting events benefiting countries such as Pakistan and Japan.
Additionally, some participating campuses identified as ACUI participants when registering. A special thanks to the ACUI top fundraisers this year: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Valparaiso University, and Appalachian State University.
Plans continue for a fourth year of the Campus Challenge during the upcoming academic year. In 2011, the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF celebrates the 40th anniversary of the historic Concert for Bangladesh, during which Harrison turned music into a political and social force to eventually raise more than $15 million. During the upcoming Help us save some lives! Campus Challenge, campuses will be encouraged to honor this feat by coordinating tribute concerts and battle of the bands programs to continue to use music for humanitarian causes.
For a complete list of the top ten fundraising campuses and more information about the program, visit http://www.acui.org/unicef.