The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

Student groups given $1,000 to help charities

What would most average college students do if they were handed $1,000? Possibly repay student loans, pay a few months of rent, or subsidize their drinking habits for the next two-and-a-half semesters. But they probably wouldn’t use the money to go on a charity spree.

That’s where the Kapco Charitable Challenge gets involved.

The Kapco Charitable Challenge involves 15 teams from three schools: Marquette, Concordia University Wisconsin and Wisconsin Lutheran University. Each school has five teams, and on Jan. 27 each team was given $1,000 by Kapco Metal Stamping to kickstart efforts to assist a charity of their choice.

On Feb. 18, one finalist from each school will be chosen to go to the final round, where presumably more funds will be provided.

The finalists will make a final presentation to a panel of judges on March 4.

Name: Men Serving Others

Goals: This group of Marquette students hopes to lower Milwaukee’s poverty rate by working with various homeless shelters. Currently, these Jesuit-influenced students are helping the Repairers of the Breach daytime community shelter by furnishing a career center for them.

Fundraising: Andrew Schueller, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences and a member of Men Serving Others, said MSO has been contacting businesses for donations. They are also holding a career fair for the homeless with Marquette’s College of Business Administration.

We are also looking to collect used formal wear that can be given to members of the community to help them interview for a job,” Schueller said in an e-mail. “We know some of these things are more expensive, so money donations would be great.”

Students interested in making donations can contact MSO through its Facebook page.

Name: Kappa Sigma Fraternity

Goals: One of Marquette’s fraternities, Kappa Sigma, is working with Pierce Elementary School to fund its creation of a computer lab. Pierce has been seeking a computer lab for some time, and the school has had a designated computer room wired for months.

Fundraising: Kappa Sigma has been using social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook to find people willing to donate lightly used computers. So far, the fraternity has had seven computers donated to the cause, and it is hoping to give Pierce Elementary about 15. Kappa Sigma is using the $1,000 from Kapco to pay for shipping costs for people who want to donate computers from outside Milwaukee.

Name: Support Homeless Youth-Milwaukee

Goals: Nine freshmen make up this group of students looking to benefit Milwaukee’s homeless youth. SHY-Milwaukee hopes to increase awareness about the approximately 400 Milwaukee youth that sleep on the streets each night. isa Cathelyn, a member of SHY-Milwaukee, said the average age of a young person sleeping on the streets is nine. SHY is partnering with Pathfinders, the only shelter in Milwaukee exclusively for youths.

Fundraising: Between the hours of 5 and 9 p.m. Tuesday night, Qdoba on Marquette’s campus will be donating a portion of its sales to SHY. Wednesday night at the Weasler Auditorium, SHY is hosting a free variety show called “SHYne-a-light,” where a performance by the Spanish O’Donnells is expected. Friday night, SHY is holding the “Homeless Youth Sleepout” and is hoping for 400 students to sleep outside in order to highlight the plight of homeless children in Milwaukee. SHY will have a table in the Alumni Memorial Union all week and is accepting cash donations.

Name: Burke Scholars

Goals: According to the Burke Scholars’ mission statement on their Kapco Facebook page, the group is using their $1,000 to “create a micro-finance program through which organizations in the Milwaukee area can receive start-up capital for sustainable ventures that will contribute to community improvement.”

Fundraising: As of press time, the Burke Scholars do not have officially publicized fundraising plans.

Name: O-Staff

O-Staff could not be reached for comment. As of press time, O-Staff did not have a Facebook group page that could provide information on their intentions to spend the $1,000.

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