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The recently formed grass roots student organization, GIVE, allows WSU students to participate in local, national, and international philanthropic opportunities.

This student group started earlier this year by Erika Schoonmaker, a senior kinesiology major, and Ed Kent, director of philanthropy for Associated Students of Washington State University.

They are a fairly small group, with 10 to 15 members regularly attending their meetings, but they already run some very large events on campus. Earlier this semester GIVE participated in Drunk Driving Awareness Week. They organized the simulated car crash on campus, Schoonmaker said.

“We had to coordinate with the university, police and fire department to get it approved. It was a difficult process, but when it actually happened it was a very moving and a lot of people took it to heart,” Katie Peterson, a member of GIVE, said.

Next semester GIVE will be putting on an all campus fitness challenge to create scholarships for veterans on campus. The events will be held all around campus, and all students are encouraged to join in the activities, Schoonmaker said. The events will be geared toward the different branches of the military and will follow a military theme.

Schoonmaker said currently there are few scholarships for veterans, so money raised will be put towards a scholarship fund to help those who have served or are serving to continue their education and obtain degrees.

“This event won’t be until April. We’re still in the really early phases of planning, but very excited about this,” Schoonmaker said.

GIVE also plans to expand and work with other national and international philanthropic associations in the up coming semester. Schoonmkaer said they hope to have an event in the spring with TOMS Shoes, and organization that gives a pair of shoes to children in need every time a pair of shoes is bought.

GIVE draws its ideas for their events from their members.

“We don't emphasize any specific causes, just what catches our attention or we feel needs to be addressed,” Schoonmaker said.

“The thing I love about GIVE is that it really gives me the opportunity to have an impact on issues we feel passionate about. We have a big say in what we get involved in and every meeting is basically a brainstorming session,” Peterson said.

Members say, the unique quality that really sets apart this group from others on campus, allowing students to take control and make a difference within their community and in a larger global sense.

“There are so many issues out there and GIVE is just one way that we can give back and try to make the world a bit more positive,” Schoonmaker said.

GIVE also works closely with the Center for Civic Engagement. Their mission is to promote civic responsibility. Together they have put on events such as the Rake Run, where they went to elderly people’s houses and raked leaves for them.

“It’s been a great opportunity to get together with others who also want to give back to the community,” member of GIVE, Katie Derrig said.

GIVE meets every Thursday at 5:30 in CUE 319. Meetings are open to anyone.
For more information about GIVE visit the ASWSU Web site. http://aswsu.wsu.edu/current_projects_GIVE.aspx


Erika Schoonmaker
eschoonmaker@wsu.edu

Katie Peterson
Peterk8@wsu.edu

Katie Derrig
katiederrig@gmail.com