Babson MBAs Create & Participate in “Babson Gives Back Day”
Babson MBAs held the first annual Babson Gives Back Day on Saturday, May 7th. Babson MBAs and alumni were invited to give back to the community in meaningful ways as part of the kickoff to the Babson MBA Grad Week.
Five opportunities were selected based on where the students could make the greatest impact in the community. Twenty three participants contributed over 70 hours to help the greater Boston Community through these service projects. You can also view the day’s offerings here.
Opportunity #1: Teach Budgeting and Financial Skills at the Boys & Girls Club in Allston
Pictured left to right: Matthew Craig, Brenda Kasigwa, Nupur Oswal, Danielle Barr, Daniel Zolnierz, Michael Williams, and Lizzie Bell
Seven volunteers taught a group of 15 and 16 year-old students who had been identified as future leaders and are Brian Honan fellows. The Babson team spent the morning discussing how they budget their own money, followed by one-on-one workshops with each student to take an in-depth look at their personal spending. The team ended the day with a fun budgeting game show, where the winning team was rewarded with Babson-branded prizes. The budgeting lesson was received so positively that the Boys and Girls Club staff has welcomed back the team to continue their budgeting lessons at a future date.
Opportunity #2: YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day in Needham
Pictured left to right: Mathew Paisner, Daniel Zolnierz, Amanda Lotstein, Alli Casciotti-McGrew, Milka Milliance, and Antoinne Machal-Cajigas
A second Babson team joined the Charles River YMCA volunteers to setup and run their annual Healthy Kids Day event. The day involved events that fostered healthy living by engaging in creative and fun activities. Healthy Kids Day is part of the YMCA’s larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active.
Opportunity #3: Lending a Hand at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in West Roxbury
Pictured left to right: Miles Masci and Hari Vetsa
This Babson team visited the Habitat for Humanity “ReStore” in West Roxbury. The volunteers processed donations, moved merchandise, and helped customers among other tasks. ReStore manager, Paul Decoulos, opened the store on April 2nd of this past year. This retail store concept accepts donations of new and gently-used furniture and appliances, building materials, cabinets, fixtures, and other home improvement items and sells them to the general public at greatly reduced prices. All proceeds go towards Habitat’s build sites in West Roxbury.
Opportunity #4: Walk for Multiple Sclerosis Research in Natick
Pictured left to right: Enrique Orizondo, Vanessa Quake, Tim Davies, and Daniel Mazor
A fourth Babson team participated in the eight-mile MS Journey of Hope. The event is comprised of multiple teams of walkers from the Boston area raising funds to support the comprehensive services of affiliated MS Clinical Centers of Excellence. Walking together they made a powerful statement to keep moving toward a cure.
Opportunity #5: Renovation Work with Friends of the Homeless in North Weymouth
The fifth Babson team traveled to North Weymouth to help with renovation work at Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore. Friends of the Homeless’ mission is to help homeless families living in shelters move to a permanent home. The agency has a food bank, a furniture bank, and is continually working on new housing.
From site leader Herb: “We had a great time with the Babson volunteers. We received and gave away more than 75 mattress sets from Sears in four days. While the Babson team came in and helped several families load their mattresses, we talked about what Friends of the Homeless is all about and met some of the families. Thanks so much, it was a great group!”
Participants in the Friends of the Homeless included Melissa Bolanos, Sridhar Kadambala, Michael Hyman, Susan Jones, and Hong Yin.
View further details about each of these events at the following website: http://www.eventbrite.com/org/1078210005?s=3871259