Holiday Ornament

For Immediate Release:

HOLIDAY ORNAMENT DRIVE FOR

BONARESPONDS SHOWS A LOT OF CLASS

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y., Nov. 20, 2006 – Here’s a switch: BonaResponds is on the receiving end of some help this holiday season.

To support St. Bonaventure University’s on-campus service organization, a marketing class is selling Christmas ornaments for $5 each. Once purchased, the ornament will be hung on a Christmas tree display from Nov. 27 to Dec. 8 in either the Hickey Dining Hall on campus or the Allegany Park ‘N’ Shop store.

The ornaments will bear a gift tag of the sponsor’s name to showcase community support. The ornaments will then be delivered back to the buyer before Christmas.

Students in Dr. Michael Russell’s Event and Sponsorship Marketing class (MKT 310) organized the ornament fundraiser, one of four community-oriented events that have exposed students to real-world event marketing opportunities.

“This is an excellent opportunity to show your support for BonaResponds, which works diligently to provide for those in need, including the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the devastating October winter storm in Buffalo,” said event coordinator Marissa Sciarrino, one of four five-year MBA students taking the marketing class for graduate credit and acting as group leaders.

Three other student groups in the class have already organized a youth hockey camp in October; a wine-and-food pairing event for graduate students at The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts earlier this month; and a UNICEF drive that saw the familiar orange Halloween donation boxes spread across the area.

Ornaments will be available for purchase on campus in the Reilly Center lobby on Monday, Nov. 27, through Wednesday, Nov. 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They can also be bought by contacting Abbey Naples at NaplesAS@sbu.edu; Sciarrino at SciarrMS@sbu.edu; or Matt Corasanti at Corasamg@sbu.edu. Cash and checks payable to St. Bonaventure University will be accepted.

More information about BonaResponds is available at www.Bonasresponds.org.