DeSales University to Host Buddy Walk to Benefit Down Syndrome, Sat., Sept. 23
DeSales University will host the Eastern Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Center's (EPDSC) annual Buddy Walk on the mall of the Center Valley campus on Saturday, September 23. Activities begin with registration at 2:30 p.m. at the steps of Trexler Library, followed by the mile-long walk at 3:30 p.m. The cost is $10 for adults age 13 and over, and $5 for children 12 and under. All participants will receive a t-shirt. Live music, refreshments, games and activities will be available from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Parking will be available in the lots of Trexler Library and Labuda Theatre.
Held annually for the last 10 years, the Buddy Walk is the premier event to raise money for Down Syndrome education, research, and advocacy programs. In 2005, more than $5.5 million was raised nationwide for education and to help raise awareness.
Students from the DeSales University American Marketing Association, Business Department, and Best Buddies helped plan and implement the event, which will be held during the University's Fall Festival hosted by DeSales' Student Activities.
According to Sue Y. McGorry, associate professor of business at DeSales, students identified potential targets for communication efforts, researched the organization and its resources, and selected the appropriate tools for communicating event information.
"Not only does this project provide the EPDSC with long-term resources and plans for marketing this event, it also has a key educational component for students, mainly, the opportunity to experience and share Christian humanism via service learning experiences," said McGorry. "Students earn practical, valuable business experience, while playing an important, proactive role in their communities."
Students in McGorry's advertising and promotions class agree that working on the project has had a positive impact.
"In a few short weeks, we have done a wide range of things, from developing sponsorship campaigns and networking with local businesses to promote the event, to creating flyers," said Elise Wilk, senior marketing major from Philadelphia. "We are gaining so much experience and at the same time helping a great organization."
In 2005, DeSales students participated in a similar project and assisted the EPDSC in generating over $25,000 toward Down Syndrome research and education.
"Working for such a meaningful cause has been a valuable experience," said Jason Noga, a junior pharmaceutical marketing major from Cresson, Pa. "Our goal is to help this worthwhile organization meet and even surpass last year's effort."
For more information on the event, contact Sue Y. McGorry, associate professor of business at DeSales, at 610-282-110, ext. 1329, or at sue.mcgorry@desales.edu.
Press Release: DeSales University to Host Buddy Walk to Benefit Down Syndrome, Sat., Sept. 23 | Posted on: 9/14/2006
For more info:
Tom McNamara, Executive Director of Communications
DeSales University | 2255 Station Avenue | Center Valley, PA 18034
610.282.1100 x1219 | Tom.McNamara@desales.edu |
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