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Connecting students to service
A bake sale organized as part of ProjectConnect raised more than $2,100 for an organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger.
The Office of International Admissions and UB partners went all out at a June bake sale designed to inspire incoming international students to embrace the spirit of public service.
The spread of delights at the event, held two consecutive Saturdays at the North Tonawanda Farmer’s Market, included giant Buffalo-themed oreos, cashew-lemon shortbread, molasses cookies, vanilla cake truffles, chocolate mint slices, carrot cake muffins and apricot-almond cream cheese balls. The sale raised more than $2,100 for Share Our Strength, a national non-profit organization devoted to ending childhood hunger in the United States.
The event was part of ProjectConnect, an initiative that encourages members of the UBelong Club for international freshmen and transfer students to perform a community service project before coming to UB for their first semester.
The goal is to emphasize that becoming an engaged citizen of the world is an important part of a U.S. education, says Amy Matikosh, international admissions advisor. The bake sale, which she organized, was a way to lead by example, she says—to show that “you can take a step and try to make some change.” Alongside the sweet treats, students and staff displayed and sold items that international students had donated, including a lacquered, wooden statue from Vietnam and a watch from Korea University.
The fundraiser, with its focus on assisting poor children, connected with themes found in a film UBelong members are watching this summer as a shared intellectual experience. The movie, “The Blind Side,” highlights poverty in America, telling the story of Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Michael Oher, who grew up in foster homes and on the street before a wealthy family adopted him and nurtured his football talent. Viewing guides that faculty and alumni from an array of disciplines prepared helped UBelong members analyze and understand the drama.
UBelong and ProjectConnect have had success in motivating UB’s newest international students to take part in civic-minded activities that have included a beach clean-up in the United Arab Emirates and a party in South Korea during which orphans enjoyed cake, soccer, basketball and a visit from an American student—a rare opportunity for the children to meet a foreigner.
Besides the Office of International Admissions, those helping with this year’s bake sale were from the English Language Institute, Graduate Enrollment Management, Graduate School, Intercultural and Diversity Center, International Student and Scholar Services, Office of International Education and Study Abroad Programs. Goodies that did not sell went to Friends of Night People, which provides food, clothing, medical care and counseling to Buffalo’s poor and homeless.
The congregation of North Presbyterian Church in North Tonawanda donated $180 to the bake sale, while Matikosh’s husband, Leslie Michael, raised $196 from employees and customers at Ki-Po Chevrolet, where he works. (One colleague at the dealership also baked.) One of the most memorable contributions came from a woman who handed the bake sale team a hundred-dollar bill on the first Saturday of the event. Asked whether she wanted change, the lady responded, “No, no, no. I think that what you’re doing is sweet,” Matikosh remembers. The next weekend, the same woman returned with a second hundred-dollar bill in hand.
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