Central Michigan University Teams Compete in Fundraiser to Benefit the 2010 Special Olympics Michigan State Summer Games

By: Jenna Rummer
   
The administration and academic divisions at Central Michigan University (CMU) are faced off in a friendly competition to raise money for the athletes competing at the 2010 Special Olympics Michigan State Summer Games.

Paper icons can be purchased campus wide at CMU from April 1 to May 14. The icons are more than just a paper medal; they are a symbol of support for athletes.

To add more incentive to the on-campus sales competition, the team that raises the most money will receive bragging rights and their name on a traveling trophy.

There is also some competition among those on the same team. The CMU mailroom and campus police are located in the same building and have windows directly across from each other. The police and the mailroom have covered their windows with icons they have sold to show off their sales to the other office. The competition between the rival offices ended just a few dollars apart in 2009!

The on-campus competition has been going on since 2002 and has raised over $50,000 for Special Olympics Michigan athletes during this time. Last year the administration team won the competition by raising $10,751.

Icons can be purchased for a minimum of $1. The goal of the icon sales and on campus competition is to raise $20,000. At the end of the first week 5,000 icons were sold.

Heidi Alexander is the administrative assistant at the Special Olympics Michigan state office and is also heading up the icon sales.

“One of the benefits of bringing athletes from all over the state to CMU is that they can see how welcoming CMU and the Mt. Pleasant community is to them. The athletes will see the icons displayed throughout the campus and around Mt. Pleasant and know how much the community supports them,” said Alexander.

Another way to help out is to sponsor an athlete for the 2010 Special Olympics Michigan State Summer Games. With a minimum contribution of $60 sponsors will receive a certificate that features their name and will be displayed where they purchased their sponsorship.

The final count of icon sales will take place on May 14 and the winner of the on-campus competition will be announced.

Icons will also be sold at dozens of Mt. Pleasant area businesses from May 1 to June 5.

Posted: 2010-04-13