Spring 2005

Kellogg’s business has heart

By Amanda Morris

Competition has always been a prominent part of the lives of Northwestern students. They compete in the classroom, in the workforce, at sporting events and on academic teams. Now they are taking that competitive edge into the arena of community service.

The Kellogg School of Management’s Business With a Heart Club (BWAH) has a new community outreach program that gives service a competitive twist. The Section Service Initiative divides first-year Kellogg students into nine groups of 60. Each section, led by a BWAH representative, creates a relationship with an assigned local agency. The sections then compete in a contest to see which group can donate the most time to their agency. Whichever group accumulates the most volunteer hours wins a cash reward to be put toward a section party.

The Evanston agencies involved are Youth Organi-zations Umbrella, Inc. (Y.O.U.), Family Focus, Haven Middle School, Mather Life Ways Nursing Facility and McGaw YMCA.

“We have a very strong partnership with the University that goes back 25 years,” said Tonya Patterson, volunteer coordinator for Y.O.U.

Kellogg students assist Y.O.U. in several different areas. During after-school programs, they help the kids directly by aiding with homework and leading life skills groups. They also assist Y.O.U. in achieving its developmental goals by helping plan fundraisers and events.

McGaw YMCA Volunteer Coordinator Susan Thomson agrees. Kellogg students volunteer at the Y’s after-school program where they coach student sports, help with homework and play games with the children.

“It’s been a very positive experience working with Kellogg,” she said. “They are enthusiastic about being here, and our students are really excited to have them at the Y.”

Thomson is particularly impressed with how Kellogg students work in the “Homework Helper Room” to ensure success in school.

Mike Fehland, manager of activities and volunteer resources at Mather Life Ways, said the BWAH Section Service Initiative volunteers are different from other student volunteers. Whereas a typical student volunteer donates 90 minutes a week and arrives every week at the same time, the new Kellogg volunteers have a more flexible schedule.

For example, students can volunteer during off-hours to decorate the hallway bulletin boards. Others have planned to put together biographies for the residents. Unlike the typical volunteer, the Kellogg students donate time around the clock.

Kellogg’s Business With a Heart was created to get students more involved with the community. As an umbrella organization, it supports a wide range of activities including educational programs, community outreach efforts, periodic drives and annual charity benefits. The club’s last major project was a Holiday Gift Drive in December that raised over $10,000 in gifts for local underprivileged children.