GREENSBURG, PA (PTTP) – On the evening of Feb. 29, Pitt Greensburg’s Student Government Association hosted its annual Students vs Faculty Charity Event. The event features the students competing against the faculty in a type of sports game, with this year’s event being a basketball game for the local animal rescue charity, HEAL.
Each year, the Student Government Association (SGA) utilizes its funds to put on several events throughout the academic year with the charity basketball game being their marquee event. The event itself lasted all day, featuring not only a game but also baskets that were raffled off throughout Thursday. Students arrived as early as 10:30 am to begin set up and from there, people came and went throughout the day, purchasing tickets for the various baskets. The proceeds from these raffle tickets went to HEAL. In the evening, the game began and lasted for an hour. Once the game was over, the winners of the raffles were announced.
This event is entirely student-run with SGA advisor Al Thiel acting primarily as a mentor figure to sign their paperwork and help where he can. Furthermore, every student organization on campus must participate in one of the major service events each year, meaning a substantial portion of the student body is contributing to this event. They can participate in a variety of ways, whether that be by physically helping to run the event, playing in the basketball game, or donating items to be raffled off throughout the day.
Despite this event becoming a tradition for Pitt Greensburg, Thiel maintained that he will never require the students to run this event. However, the SGA recognizes its importance, and each year chooses to run it. They also get to choose the charity they would like to donate to, with this year’s choice being HEAL.
HEAL is an animal rescue agency from Youngwood, PA. One reason HEAL was chosen specifically was that they are raising funds for a mobile spay and Neuter clinic, and the SGA felt that through this charity event, they are helping raise the funds for that goal. Furthermore, it has deep ties to the Greensburg community with many students and faculty volunteering there during their free time.
“Because we are a branch campus, the local community is very vital,” said SGA President, Breanna Tomsey, about choosing a local charity. This ties in with the broader goals of the event, which are to engage the community. The event was a public access event, where many community members came together. Furthermore, this year, they received donations from 17 different local businesses.
Credit: Pitt Greensburg