Spring is an exciting time here at HBS. We finally get to see HBS the way it looked in all the brochures! It is also a time to give back to the community and worthwhile causes. Last week, Section H had their charity auction at the Harvard Club in Boston. It was incredible to see 100% of the section donate items for bidding and get involved in the process.
From a classmate agreeing to serve as a personal assistant for a day (sold for $1,000) to one offering up the opportunity to serve as an aunt or uncle for his upcoming baby, Section H came together to have fun and support some worthy causes. Each organization had Section H sponsors who had been touched in some way by their mission. By the end of the night, we had raised nearly $30,000 and supported six incredible charities:
Touch India
Sponsored by Amar Kumar: Touch India has been operating in India for more than fifteen years with the core mission of serving groups that have historically been deprived of opportunity – orphans, widows, victims of the caste system, and the rural poor. Touch India works among all religions, castes, and socioeconomic groups within the communities it operates. With a staff of just ten individuals, the organization runs three orphanages and two schools, and manages development programs in hundreds of villages.
Davis Phinney Foundation
Sponsored by Brandon Halcott: DPF has a single mission: To improve the lives of those living with Parkinson’s disease. Based in Boulder, Colorado, the foundation was established in 2004 by cycling legend Davis Phinney, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 40. The DPF is focused on promoting and funding innovative and progressive research into the benefits of quality of life therapies on Parkinson’s disease.
United Cerebral Palsy
Sponsored by Jake Flomenberg: For 60 years, UCP has been committed to change and progress for persons with disabilities. Founded in 1949, the national organization and its nationwide network of affiliates strive to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in every facet of society-from the Web to the workplace, from the classroom to the community. The mission of UCP is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities through an affiliate network.
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Sponsored by Michael Smith: The Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge directs 100 percent of funds raised to the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research, which enables researchers at the leading edge of scientific sleuth work to achieve better cure rates and to enhance patients’ quality of life. Dedicated individuals are united by their tremendous personal commitment to fighting cancer through the fundraising and training components of DFMC.
Tibetan Children’s Village
Sponsored by Tenzing Lama: The mission of TCV is to ensure that all Tibetan children under its care receive a sound education, a firm cultural identity and become self-reliant and contributing members of the Tibetan community and the world at large. They aim to provide parental care, develop children’s character, and provide a suitable environment for physical and intellectual growth so that children may grow up to be good citizens.
Prize4Life
Sponsored by Marc Weiner: Prize4Life is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the discovery of treatments and cures for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). The mission is to accelerate the discovery of treatment and a cure for ALS by using powerful incentives to attract new people and new ideas and to leverage existing efforts and expertise in the ALS field.
The charity auction will stay in our memories as one of our favorite events at HBS. Despite a recession and a difficult job market, Section H and the rest of HBS have shown that they are willing to step up to help worthy causes and make a difference in the world.
