Global Business Brigades – Brigade

The TRUing Project Enactus

Champion’s Cup Blood Drive

Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity, created the semi-annual Champion’s Cup Blood Drive through LifeSouth Community Blood Centers to help non-social Greek organizations compete and raise donations to LifeSouth’s Blood Bank. The competition helped LifeSouth collect more donations than any other two week period from non-social Greek organizations ever before at the University of Florida.

“Animals, Biomes, recycling, Oh My” - ASTRA

ASTRA’s Project “Animals, Biomes, recycling, Oh My” partnered with Kids Count in Alachua Country to put on a service project geared toward teaching children about the earth’s animals and environment in a fun and engaging atmosphere. The project educated 20 children and ASTRA continues to volunteer with this organization.

Multiple Projects-Delta Sigma Pi

The members of Delta Sigma Pi coordinated and participated in multiple projects that gave back to the Gainesville community and beyond. These projects included collection of clothing for the St. Francis House here in Gainesville, and preparation of meals to be delivered to low-income families through the Campus Kitchen project throughout the year. Members also traveled to St. Petersburg Beach to take part in a beach clean-up, and performed service to beautify a school as part of Make A Difference Day, a national service opportunity. Finally, Delta Sigma Pi raised $3,100 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation during this academic year.

GIFT Gardens

International Business Society reached out to Florida Organic Growers in September 2009 to help work on the Gainesville Initiative for Tasty Gardens (GIFT Gardens) project. GIFT Gardens builds raised-bed vegetable gardens for Alachua County residents and the institutions that serve them, helping them become more self-sufficient and increasing their ability to provide for some of their own food needs. International Business Society believes this partnership provided a means to fight against hunger while promoting sustainability, which it strongly advocates. Through their hard work IBS impacted 271 Gainesville Residents, allotted 68 volunteer hours, and installed 18 gardens.

Ronald McDonald House Series

This past fall and spring, members of the Student Finance Group visited the Ronald Mc Donald House twice a month serving dinner each time to over 75 guests. SFG spends hundreds of dollars of their own money to make these dinners which feed the community while at the same time build retention and cohesiveness amongst the SFG members. They have built an ongoing relationship with the staff members of Ronald McDonald House and both the staff, Gainesville community, and SFG members look forward to the next visit.

Build a Bear, Make a Smile

In the Fall of 2007, The Retail Society worked with Build a Bear to donate up to 20 bears to deserving children. They donated the bears around Christmas time to the Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease Unit at Shands. With the help of the nurses, the students were able to match the bears to the children’s personalities. The Retail Society was able to bring some brightness into the children’s lives with their feel good activity.

Day of Difference

In the Spring of 2007, Florida Women in Business partnered with Junior Achievement to bring the Junior Achievement Program to local elementary schools. Florida Women in Business was able to mobilize 120 business students to participate in 62 elementary school classrooms around Alachua County. Through their efforts, 1200 students had the opportunity to learn the valuable lessons offered by the Junior Achievement Program.

The Pop Tab Challenge for the Ronald McDonald House

This year the members of Phi Beta Lamba, with a great deal of community involvement, have collected approximately twenty gallons of aluminum can pop top tabs to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. Phi Beta Lambda members have also volunteered at Ronald McDonald house hosting babysitting, movie nights, and a Christmas toy drive.