A slew of events will take place this week for the annual Battle of the Valleys competition between SVSU and Grand Valley.
The proceeds for this year’s event will be donated to the Mustard Seed Shelter, located in Saginaw, which houses homeless women and their children.
Mustard Seed Shelter also creates a plan for how to help those women and children get out of the crisis they are currently in.
Student Association hopes to bring awareness to homelessness in the area while also helping to raise money for the charity.
“I am looking forward to another great year of the battle,” said Student Association President Lauren Kreiss. “It is very comforting to see the (Student) Association, as well as the Saginaw community, come together to help raise money for a great cause.”
SVSU has won the Battle of the Valleys fundraising competition for nine years running. Last year, $26,000 was raised for Hidden Harvest. The winner of the battle and the amount of money raised will be announced at halftime of the football game on Saturday, Sept. 30.
Battle week kicked off Sunday, Sept. 24, with a cookout in the President’s Courtyard from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Today, fundraising will begin at Buffalo Wild Wings from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. A flyer is necessary for a portion of the proceeds to go towards the charity. A student favorite, date auction night, will also take place tonight in the Student Center Rotunda at 9 p.m.
On Tuesday, there will be a fire truck pull on University Drive at 4 p.m. that costs $5 per participant. This is the first year ever for the fire truck pull. Teams of 10 will compete to see who can pull the loaded fire truck 40 feet the fastest.
“I am especially looking forward to the firetruck pull,” said Maura Losh, a Student Association representative. “I think it has the potential to bring a large number of participants and raise a lot of money.”
Wednesday, there will be a dodgeball tournament at Hamilton Gymnasium from 6:30 p.m. until 10 p.m.
On Thursday at noon, there will be a throwback t-shirts sale in the Thompson Student Activities Room. Thursday is also Fraternity and Sorority Life Day in the Presidents Courtyard from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.
Friday night is bowling night at Stardust Lanes at 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the SA office for $15. The event will mark the closing night of the Battle of the Valleys fundraiser at midnight.
All week, battle gear will be on sale for $10 a t-shirt, $20 a sweatshirt and $25 for a bundle. Other important parts of the fundraiser include a silent auction outside of Independent Bank, Caged Louie’s, donate a meal, a Five Below Fundraiser and RSO mini battles.
This year, a bus will be taking students to GVSU for the football game. The bus will be leaving at 3:30 p.m. and tickets are $10, which covers transportation and a ticket to the football game.
