Record-breaking generosity earns UW Challenge for Charity 7th straight victory

For the seventh consecutive year, the sought-after “Golden Briefcase” will reside in Husky territory.  UW secured the win with the highest per capita funds raised and hours volunteered, plus an impressive showing during the April sports weekend at Stanford.  In total, UW MBAs volunteered 1,660 hours and donated $115,000, money raised at the annual charity auction and dinner gala.

The UW is just one of 8 west coast business schools that compose the MBA Challenge for Charity (C4C).  Other members of the organization include chapters at Stanford, UC Berkley, USC, UC Davis, Pepperdine, UCLA and UC Irvine.  Every year, the schools compete on volunteerism, fundraising and a sports tournament held at Stanford for the prized “Golden Briefcase.”         

While taking home the “Golden Briefcase” has become a proud tradition at UW, students here are still aware of the broader mission of the competition.  According to the Challenge for Charity charter, the organization’s mission is to “develop business leaders with a lifelong commitment to community involvement and social responsibility.”  At UW, MBAs support this mission through fundraising and active volunteering with Special Olympics of Washington (SOWA) and the Boys and Girls (B&G) Clubs of King County.

As a result of their social consciousness and dedication to community involvement through C4C, UW MBA students have:

• Volunteered 9,685 hours with the 2 selected charities over the past 7 years.
• Donated over $551,000, and in 2006, grossed a record-breaking $158,000.
• Started an SAT Prep class in 2006 for high school students at the B&G Club.
• Collectively volunteered more hours at B&G Clubs than any other single group.
• Been one of SOWA’s top 10 donors for the past 2 years.

However, the achievements of the UW chapter are only a small part of the organization-wide impact of Challenge for Charity.  Since 1996, C4C members have collectively raised over $3.2 million dollars for Special Olympics and local charities and volunteered over 150,000 hours.   

This year, UW students are actively working with Special Olympic athletes as they prepare for the annual bowling tournament and with Boys and Girls Clubs during the after-school programs. 

In addition, the charity auction team is gearing up for the fall sponsorship and procurement push.  This year’s “Best of the Northwest” auction will be held Saturday, February 24th, 2007 at 5:30 pm at Bell Harbor International Conference Center on the waterfront.   The event includes dinner and silent and live auctions featuring a showcase of Northwest items. 

Last year, with a phenomenal auction team and showing of community support, UW beat the fundraising goal of $150,000 (gross).  This year, we are pushing to raise $165,000 to benefit the two charities.  To that end, please let us know if you would be interested in: