Students Choose to 'Live United'

Northern's workplace campaign for the United Way of Marquette County has raised $32,355, or about 92 percent of its $35,000 fundraising goal. Faculty, staff and retiree contributions benefit about 30 agencies that fulfill basic needs or provide services that improve the lives of others, from youth to the elderly. NMU students are also getting involved. Some have started a new campus organization called Student United Way. They are recruiting members and planning future fundraising efforts in the hope of convincing their peers to "Live United" and give back to the community.

Lauren Veale, club president, said it started when a group in a Student Leader Fellowship Program class came up with a service project to benefit the United Way.

"We held a 'Chill with the Cats' event where kids could bring cash or food donations and skate with the NMU hockey players. The directors of the United Way office in Marquette were excited we did that and asked if we would be interested in starting a campus organization because they had noticed a growth in United Way student groups at universities across the country. I made that my community service internship this summer. This first year is a building year for us. We are trying to do fundraising for our organization first so that we have a foundation for putting on fundraisers for the local United Way."

Veale said Student United Way will hold a bake sale and possibly offer babysitting services for holiday shoppers and gift wrapping at the mall to raise money this semester. The group also will begin planning two to three fundraisers next semester that will directly benefit the Marquette County organization.