2014 Key Chapter Winner Highlight: Oakland University

In continuance with our 2013-2014 Key Chapter Winner blog series, we would like to spotlight the Oakland University Golden Key chapter!
During the 2013-2014 academic year, the Oakland University chapter took part in a numerous service events that affected their surrounding community. One such occasion was the chapter’s participation in Hispanic Outreach Day of Service at the Hispanic Outreach Center in September. Coordinated by Oakland University’s Center for Multicultural Initiatives, the Golden Key chapter co-sponsored the event, which included preparing the Center’s garden for the winter and preparing boxed lunches for all of the volunteers. This served as an excellent opportunity to collaborate with various departments and student organizations at the university and, more importantly, show appreciation and serve their community. One month later for Make A Difference Day, the Oakland University chapter participated in their annual Rake And Run to help senior citizens in their community by raking their yards. In order to make this possible, the chapter partnered with the Auburn Hills Community Center, who was able to provide a list of senior citizens who needed help and trash bags for members to use. An overall success, this annual event continues to be fun and rewarding for the chapter and has helped to create a strong sense of community amongst the members.
The Oakland University chapter’s largest event is their annual PB&J Day event. This year marked their 13^th occasion of the event, and it continues to become bigger and better each year. The goal of the service event is to make as many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as possible for the Salvation Army to be passed out on their Bread & Breakfast Trucks. In order to make the event possible, the chapter partnered with grocery stores in the area who donated the necessary supplies. The chapter also received help marketing the event from the athletics department, who promoted it to student athletes, and the local radio station showed up to the event, as well. More than 140 volunteers participated in the event, and together they were able to make a record-breaking 2,223 sandwiches– 709 more than the previous year! This initiative serves not only as an excellent opportunity to help their community, but also promote their chapter to the university. In fact, the Golden Key chapter received the Student Activities Funding Board’s Best Fundraising Event Award and Outstanding Traditional Program Award!
Congratulations to our Oakland University chapter for their continued success and being named a Key Chapter for the 2013-2014 academic year!