Helping others proved to be the bottom line for students participating NC’s inaugural $5 Challenge.
The recent initiative from the School of Business, presented by the College’s entrepreneurship hub ncTakeOff, raised $1,260 for the NC Student Administrative Council’s Nourishing Minds Grocery Gift Card program.
The donation was good news for NCSAC on the heels of the recent ramp-up of its Nourishing Minds program which now supports students who may be experiencing food insecurities by providing virtual grocery gift cards.
NCSAC president Tom Price called the donation from the School of Business both “awe-inspiring” and “crucial.”
“This initiative provides virtual grocery gift cards to the student population during these unprecedented and difficult times of social distancing and self-isolation,” said Price. “Students supporting students at a grassroots level is incredible and embodies the values of NCSAC. These truly are amazing students doing amazing things.”
The $5 Challenge kicked off on March 9 when 41 teams of four students were given $5 in seed money. They had five days to apply their skills and creativity to grow their money through a financial or social venture. About 150 students participated in the initiative as part of their Entrepreneurship class. While they were scheduled to present their results on March 13 before a panel of judges, the wrap-up event was cancelled due to health and safety concerns related to COVID-19.
Faculty members Cammie Jaquays and Melanie Sodka, who organized the initiative, noted that students grew their funds to $5,522.55 overall, with 20 percent of their sales/amount raised earmarked for Nourishing Minds.
Twelve teams of students chose to contribute all of their funds to NCSAC Nourishing Minds – above the required 20 percent. Some participating student teams chose to raise funds for a social venture as the focus of their project. Combined, the students raised an additional $2,410 for not-for-profit organizations, to support NCSAC as well as for brain cancer research and Niagara Strong (supporting mental health).
Jaquays and Sodka noted that the social awareness and generosity of students from the School of Business students was exemplary and a sign of true leadership.
“We gave them $5 and the students truly created value, showing hard work, innovation, enthusiasm and initiative,” said Jaquays. “The NC community support was incredible – from SAC to profs, students, management and staff – but the students helping students at this time of need for so many is special and reflects the generous spirit of NC.”
Donate to Nourishing Minds
On March 19, NCSAC announced that it would begin offering $50 PC virtual grocery gift cards through its Nourishing Minds program to support students challenged by food insecurities while continuing their studies remotely. Students can now access the program by completing a short online form at www.yourNCSAC.ca/groceryhelp.
Those interested in assisting students by making a donation to the Nourishing Minds Grocery Gift Card program, please visit yourncsac.ca/supportnm.
Related articles:
March 9: Five dollars, five days, endless possibilities
March 19: NCSAC’s Nourishing Minds program funds groceries for students
