WASHINGTON, PA (Nov. 24, 2015) — Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) student clubs and organizations joined forces with community members and organizations in November and raised $14,366.49 through DubStep, a fundraising initiative in support of childhood cancer research.
Now in its second year, DubStep began as an initiative of the W&J Panhellenic Council, and was open to W&J Fraternity & Sorority Life organizations. This year all members of the W&J community were invited to participate, as well as organizations from the Washington, Pa. community.
The 2015 drive wrapped up on Nov. 21. In keeping with the tradition started in 2014 - when DubStep raised more than $8,000 - the funds were donated to the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, an organization that focuses on raising money through dance marathons, 5K marathons, T-shirt sales and more to provide financial and emotional support to families of children with cancer nationwide. The B+ Foundation also funds childhood cancer research.
“After the success of last year, we decided to expand,” said W&J student Angela Nied '16, an organizer of the initiative. “This creates an opportunity for the sports teams and others on campus to join. We’re definitely stronger when we’re all working together.”
Sarah Iaquinta '16, also an event organizer, said the event was meaningful because the cause touched so many people involved. She said many students know someone who is a cancer survivor, and that she knows some students who are cancer survivors themselves.
"I am always pleased whenever the Greeks come together and make great things happen. The participation from all the Greek organizations was outstanding and all of their hard work has paid off," she said. "It's moments like this that make me proud to be a member of such a wonderful Greek Community."
Nied said the DubStep name originated from the students' nickname for W&J College - "Dubjay" - and the motto they chose for the fundraising campaign: "Curing Childhood Cancer, One (Dub)Step at a Time!"
Once teams were created, they had to hold at least one fundraising event before Nov. 21. Nied said teams are encouraged to come up with fun, community-oriented ways of fundraising.
W&J’s Delta Gamma sorority offered the opportunity to “Douse a DG” with buckets of water, while the women’s tennis team collected donations from those willing to engage in a Super-Soaker water gun battle with the team. Members of W&J’s ROTC program did pushups for donations during Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 9-10. Bake sales and donation tables in support of the project were held at W&J basketball and football games. The Beta Theta Pi fraternity sold hot chocolate, and other groups, including the Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Alpha Theta sororities partnered with local restaurants to hold fundraising nights.
Teams also took up “canning” – collecting donations at traffic intersections near the College – and collected donations through the DubStep website. Fundraisers initiatives were advertised on the DubStep Facebook page.
The fundraising drive wrapped up with a dance-a-thon in Allen Ballroom of Rossin Campus Center on Nov. 21. Community members who participated in the drive were invited to the dance-a-thon.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
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