SVSU might have some more competition this year with Battle of the Valleys (BOV) fundraising, because Grand Valley has put together a committee specifically for BOV, which is Sunday, Nov. 8 through Friday, Nov. 13.
However, SVSU BOV chairperson Natalie Schneider has worked since this past May to ensure that SVSU will still come out on top.
The charity this year for BOV is “Get Outside for a Healthier Inside,” which is an affiliate of the Saginaw Community Foundation. The goal of the organization is in the name – to help improve the health of people within the community.
“That’s an organization that is focused on creating more green spaces and cleaning up parks and such in the city of Saginaw,” Schneider said. “Along with that, they are trying to encourage a family environment and fight childhood obesity.”
Sharon Dinse is the head of the organization and is a member of the first graduating class of SVSU and a part of the SVSU nursing faculty. Dinse, as well as other volunteers, have made efforts to clean up parks and make the community a better place.
The events throughout the week of BOV were chosen to reflect the aim of the charity, promoting activeness and health. Examples of these events include a 5K on Sunday, a Sports Night in the Ryder Center on Wednesday, a Camp Out on Campus event on Thursday, and a Service Learning Project with the BOV chosen charity on Saturday.
There is also a BOV Concert at the Dow Event Center featuring SVSU student Jenny Cohen as the opening act, followed by headliner Olivia Millerschin – a semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent from Michigan. The tickets are $10 a person and is on that Friday at 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased at a t-shirt table or at the Student Association office.
New this year is an RSO incentive program, which includes many opportunities for RSOs to earn points and to help raise money. They can paint windows, have volunteers for selling t-shirts, collect money, and much more to earn points.
Other events include a Kickoff Party on Sunday in the TSAR at 8 p.m., a Date Auction on Monday in the Rotunda at 9 p.m., and Pinterest with Program Board, Sundaes in the Marketplace, and Pie an RA in the Rotunda on Tuesday night.
All proceeds will go directly to the charity.
“One of the things that makes SVSU so successful with BOV is that everybody throughout the week is on the same page of ‘We need to raise as much money as we can,’” Schneider said. “I’ve been in contact with students all of the way up to President Bachand, and they are always asking me what is going on with Battle, and it seems like a very collective effort here.”
