Gordon in the News: last updated 11/26/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 25, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT
Calen Rubin
Office of College Communications
978.867.4235
[email protected]
WENHAM, MA- In the season of giving, even a class project can contribute to those in need. Gordon's Got Talent, an event to showcase the hidden talent in the Gordon community, was planned, managed and marketed as a fundraising project by 11 students in the Organizational Behavior business course taught by Kent Seibert. The admission fee, $3 per person for a two-hour event, went toward fundraising for The Boston Project.
The class planned Gordon's Got Talent as a way to provide for local families during the holiday season through the local ministry The Boston Project. Begun in 1995 by a group of Gordon students, the organization aims to build partnerships with faith-based and secular service organizations and support local urban neighborhoods.
"At the show I was able to thank the audience and participants and explain a little about The Boston Project," said Cami Foerster, resident director for Nyland Hall and one of the ministry's founding students. Since then she has contributed to the organization as both chair and as a member on the board of directors. "It's one of my passions."
The Organizational Behavior class raised a total of about $2,000, which translated into Thanksgiving baskets for about 70 families. The class attributed their financial success to three things: They were able to keep expenses low, had a good number of people attend, and received generous donations from organizations on campus and attendees of the show. "People would come in and hand us $5, $10 or even $20 and tell us to keep the change," said one student. "They knew it was going to a good cause."
Several students noted they worried about attendance as the November 14 event competed with a Celtics game and the premier of the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. The class was pleasantly surprised to have over 500 people attend the show, which included dance routines, magic tricks, and even a student who ate an apple in two bites.
"Part of the success of the event was getting others to contribute," they noted. "The show's participants were volunteers, organizations on campus like CEC and the Business Club helped put on the event, and we received donations from both those who helped put on the show and the senior class."
Seibert commented that it was especially telling of what Gordon is like that the winner of the talent show donated his $100 prize back to The Boston Project. The prize came from donations of the students in the Organizational Behavior class rather than from the proceeds of the event. "Gordon folks really do have big hearts," he said.
The Boston Project operates several neighborhood outreach ministries and partners with over 20 faith-based and secular organizations to meet physical, social, academic and spiritual needs for the working families and seniors in the local Boston area. This holiday season The Boston Project hopes to provide more than 100 Thanksgiving baskets to the people they serve. For more information on The Boston Project visit http://www.tbpm.org/.
For information or to request an interview contact Calen Rubin in the Office of College Communications at 978.867.4235 or [email protected].
Gordon College is a Christian college of the liberal arts and sciences on Boston's North Shore. The college offers majors in 37 fields and has graduate programs in education and music education. Leading the way in Christian college merit, Gordon is nationally ranked for its excellence in academics and its role in character building. These achievements recognize Gordon as one of the nation's top Christian colleges.
