SU Marketing Students Raise Over $100,000 for the Community

A dodgeball tournament to benefit Kids of Honor was among the dozens of fundraisers students planned and promoted in 2011.

SALISBURY, MD---Students in Paula Morris’ marketing and promotions classes at Salisbury University reached a $100,000 milestone this semester.

Each year, Morris tasks students in the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business with developing and promoting fundraisers for local charities to give them real-world experience. This fall, the multi-year total contributions topped $100,000. And that’s just the tangible donations.

“Intangibles for the students included new mentors; seeing a person walk for the first time; possibly preventing a suicide; organ donations; healthier youth in our community; adopted shelter animals; increased awareness of diseases, community organization and events; and establishing a sense of giving back in Perdue School students,” said Morris.

The biggest project students embarked on led to a marketing campaign that remains in use today. In 2005, a team from Morris’ class conducted a $20,000 in-kind study to create a slogan for the Wicomico County Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism. The result, “Discover Delmarva’s Hidden Treasures,” was trademarked in 2006 and has been incorporated in everything from county signage and tourism materials to the name of the department’s annual half-marathon fundraiser.

The recreation, parks and tourism department is one of more than 40 organizations that have benefited from the students’ efforts. This semester, they earned nearly $7,000 through events such as restaurant fundraisers, laser tag and bowling tournaments, a fashion show and a 5K run.

Proceeds benefited groups including Kids of Honor, Toys For Tots, organ donation, Sheila’s Kids, Women Supporting Women, the Maryland Food Bank, the American Cancer Society and the Salisbury Zoological Society.

“Paula and her students did a wonderful job for the community again this semester,” said Dr. Frank Shipper, chair of SU’s Management and Marketing Department. “This is service learning in action.”

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.