MU vs. KU Student Challenge raises money for Live United Week
MU raised almost $1,900 more than KU for United Way charities.
Published Nov. 24, 2009
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Students and faculty participate in a flash mob, organized by local United Way as a part of a 48-hour fundraising contest between MU and KU, on Thursday, Nov. 19 at noon in Lowry Mall. MU won the contest, raising over $2,000 in over two days.
The first MU vs. KU Student Challenge to raise money for United Way’s Live United Week ended Thursday with MU raising more than $2,000 over two days.
In total, MU students raised $2,169.74 for the Heart of Missouri United Way — almost $1,900 more than the $287 the University of Kansas raised, said Lindsey Testerman, the organization’s marketing and communications director.
“Thanks to amazing support from the student athletes and our MU Student United Way organization, we have had a great turnout to the events and amazing assistance in the change collections,” Testerman said.
The challenge was sponsored by the Student United Way organizations of MU and KU and was a way for the MU Student United Way, a newly formed group launched this fall, to "come out with a bang,” Testerman said.
The challenge began at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday with a free midnight pancake creakfast in the MU Athletic Training Complex.
Volunteers collected change for the challenge in Lowry Mall and at Speakers Circle. Sophomore Kaitlyn Ritchie was one of the student volunteers Thursday in Speakers Circle.
“It’s a competition against KU, so we can bring school spirit to the competition, and competition makes it a different experience,” Ritchie said.
The first Live United Flash Mob took place Thursday. A few minutes after noon in Lowry Mall, students and faculty participating in the Flash Mob froze in place at the sound of an air horn.
Athletics Director Mike Alden was part of those frozen for a full minute in Lowry Mall and said he was happy with how the event turned out.
“I hadn’t seen one and thought it was a great way to promote United Way,” Alden said.
2009 United Way Campaign Chairwoman Cathy Scroggs, who is also vice chancellor for student affairs, was in Lowry Mall on Thursday for the Flash Mob.
“I think it’s a great idea and raises the student awareness about United Way,” Scroggs said.
Although the MU vs. KU Student Challenge ended Thursday, Heart of Missouri United Way is still taking donations, and MU Student United Way is looking for new members, Testerman said.
