When Scripps students care passionately about a cause, increasingly they turn to creative and productive ways to get out the word — and raise money.
In March this year, two groups of students literally put their bodies on the line to help fight two deadly diseases, AIDS/HIV and cancer.
The first group, composed of members of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) soccer teams, Scripps Activities Team, and Peace and Justice, held a barefoot soccer tournament on the College’s new athletic field on March 7, with 125 student participants. Funds raised will go to Grassroot Soccer, an organization that uses soccer as a tool to teach people in Africa about AIDS prevention and works to reduce the stigma around AIDS/HIV.
The barefoot soccer organizers from Scripps are Arlyn Madsen-Bond ’11, Madden Rowell ’11, Anna Fiastro ’11, and Amanda Drasny ’09. Madsen-Bond reports that they raised $3,275 (more than double their goal) and are waiting for additional donations to come in before they close the books.
“It was truly amazing to see so many people having fun while raising money for such a great cause,” says Madsen-Bond. “It goes to show that a small group of individuals can make a difference.”
The second student organization helped put on a 24-hour dance-a-thon to raise money for City of Hope, a comprehensive cancer center focused on research and treatment. Dance-a-thon, now in its fourth year, is much like a walk-a-thon, except participants dance the Lindy Hop, nonstop. Six Scripps students in The Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company were joined by six other dancers from Harvey Mudd and Pomona Colleges, on March 14, at a nearby L.A. Fitness facility. At least one member from the team danced continuously for the entire 24 hours. With each dancer responsible for raising at least $50, the team’s contribution to cancer research came to over $600. The six Scripps dancers were Jessica Hurley ’09, Ellyn Brady ’10, Paulina Sanchez ’10, Elena Hernandez ’11, Julie Lapidus ’11, and Amy Wong ’12.
Scripps students — putting their words and beliefs into action.