Mount Allison University's Shinerama campaign has been recognized as the best in the country by Cystic Fibrosis Canada. The annual fundraiser tied with the University of Western Ontario for the 2011 Best Overall Campaign Award.
"It's really nice to know when you put your heart into something it can pay off and it's nice to know you can make a big difference," says Mount Allison Shinerama chair Beth Whitfield, who is originally from Toronto.
Mount Allison students raised $56,735 for cystic fibrosis research this year. About $20,000 was collected on Shine Day, the group's largest fundraiser, which took place on Sept. 10, and another $11,000 was raised through online donations. The Shinerama Summer Squad, made up of about 40 students, raised $13,000 over the summer months through various events.
Whitfield says around 700 people took part in Shine Day.
"The Shinerama culture isingrained in Mount Allison now," she says. "We had someone go to the Ontario Shinerama conference and the people there were asking, ‘How do you guys do this? How do you get people to volunteer?' Mount Allison is very focused on giving back. We have a great community here and we feel like it is a wonderful opportunity to show all of our new students about giving back."
Whitfield says they have tremendous support from the University community as well as Sackville and area. She says the support of the Mount Allison Students' Administrative Council (SAC) is also invaluable to the campaign. The SAC fully backs the fundraiser, including paying for her position as campaign chair.
"We've been really lucky to be supported by the student union," she says. "They put a lot of time and effort into it."
This is not the first time Mount Allison has been recognized for its work on Shinerama. The Universityalso won Best Overall Campaign in 2009.
"This is a tremendous recognition of our students and the hard work they put into Shinerama," says Ron Byrne, vice-president of international and student affairs. "Their level of commitment to their studies and to their community is truly unparalleled."
Shinerama began in the 1960s and is now Canada's largest post-secondary school fundraiser. To date, it has collected more than $21.5 million for cystic fibrosis research.
