Bush School students recently participated in a day designed to celebrate philanthropic efforts in the local community. The Bush School Chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals held the local National Philanthropy Day highlighting charitable work in the local community, one of more than 100 similar events held throughout North America in 2018. Bush Students taking part in the celebration wrote thank you notes to recent Bush School donors. The day also recognized several philanthropic activities conducted at the School during the fall semester.
The celebration was jointly hosted by the School’s Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy. AFP recruited volunteers to help from several Bush School student organizations, including the Public Service Organization, Bush School Ambassadors, Public Service Leadership Program, and Committee for Global Philanthropy. AFP is a new student organization, and this celebration reflected 18 months of organizing and building alliances culminating in AFP.
Several Bush School students were recognized for their unique philanthropic initiatives. Tiffany Easter, a member of the 2019 class, created a sweatshirt sale in November to raise funds for Phoebe’s Home, which provides services to victims of domestic violence and dating violence. The funds were to help Phoebe’s Home provide holiday gifts to those it serves. Gandy Osburn and Cannon Tate, also 2019 students, designed a Christmas card campaign that allowed students to write cards for adults with autism at the Autism Services of Southwest Louisiana. Both students will deliver the cards at the end of the semester.
As part of the celebration, the students listed their personal philanthropic activities and their own definition of philanthropy: helping those less fortunate than themselves, serving something bigger than themselves, empowering others, and providing hope. Like their peers, the students posted a picture on Facebook to demonstrate their commitment to philanthropy and to advertise their new organization.
