EDITORS NOTE: Photos available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/oaklandcc/with/30388511041/
Inaugural "Our College Cares for Oakland County Charities"
Crosses 5K Finish Line in Distance and Donations
OAKLAND COUNTY, Michigan – What started as a simple 5K run/walk for students, faculty and staff ended at the finish line with over 5,000 items donated to six local charities. The winners: Orchard Children's Services, Lighthouse of Oakland County, Gleaners Food Bank, the Michigan Humane Society, National Council of Jewish Women and Sweet Dreamzzz – and, of course, the more than 260 participants in the first-time event.
The inaugural event, "Our College Cares for Oakland County Charities," was held Friday, Oct 21 at OCC's Orchard Ridge Campus in Farmington Hills. Participants included students from OCC, Oakland Early College and West Bloomfield High School as well OCC faculty and staff.
"The goal of higher education is to teach important academics and technical skills and to also enhance valuable life skills including the ability to work in teams, organize and become engaged as citizens," said Lisa Skowronski, manager of campus affairs and interim student development coordinator. "These life skills are also learned through service opportunities and giving back to the community."
To participate in the event, an item donation was required supporting the six Oakland county charities. In return, participants received a free t-shirt designed by OCC graphic design student, Anian Trujillo Dominguez, and lunch sponsored, in part, by local Hungry Howie's Pizza and Busch's Fresh Food Market.
According to Skowronski, the College worked directly with the charity organizations through its Student Engagement program and OCC's Volunteer & Resource Fair. New relationships were also established with charities like Sweet Dreamzzz, allowing OCC students to become aware of other charitable organizations within the community.
"We thought students would be interested in a participatory event like this where faculty and students from high school through college could come together and actively engage with each other in our community," she said. "We were so happy with the number of donations, support and fun each participant had at the event and look forward to an even bigger event next year!"
About OCC
With multi campus system throughout Oakland County, OCC offers degrees and certificates in approximately 100 career fields as well as university transfer degrees in business, science and liberal arts. The College provides academic and developmental experiences allowing each student to reach their full potential and enhance the communities they serve. More than 45,000 students annually attend OCC; more than a million students have enrolled in the College since it opened in 1965. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.
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Media Contact: Bridget M. Kavanaugh | Marketing & Communications | (248) 341-2020 | bmkavana@oaklandcc.edu