Good deeds are contagious. Or so seems to be the case with the volunteer service project for Miami Children’s Hospital undertaken by BBA+ Weekend Group 27 students-right on the heels of another project led by Group 26 students.
Group 27 volunteers worked with the local chapter of AT&T Telecom Pioneers to create a “Spring Celebration” activity for the children. The students got involved as part of their Business in Society service project.
“Our students’ accomplishments are an example of how the South Florida community benefits from a service alliance between the College of Business Administration at Florida International University (FIU) and a corporate community-focused organization like AT&T Telecom Pioneers,” said Robert Hogner, the course’s professor and coordinator of the college’s civic engagement initiative.
Students spring into action-with gift bags that spread smiles all around.
“Our idea was to help the children celebrate spring,” said project leader Henny Lalinde. “We prepared 140 ‘Spring Celebration’ gift bags, which included the materials needed to decorate the outside of the bag. We all pitched in make this happen.”
Lalinda and four of her classmates joined Alex Formoso, president, AT&T Telecom Pioneers South Florida Council and Group 26 leader, to deliver the spring-themed bags to the children. They worked closely with the hospital’s Radio Lollipop volunteers.
“Our group truly enjoyed the whole experience-from coming up with the idea, to collecting supplies, to assembling gift bags and seeing the last one given to a happy child,” Lalinde said. “It was rewarding to see all the children and their families having such a great time.”
“We look forward to more successful joint community service projects,” added Cindy Esquivel (BBA ’01), Telecom Pioneers community service chairperson. “I believe that AT&T Telecom Pioneers and the BBA+ Weekend students make a great team.”
Lalinde emphasized that this kind of activity demonstrates the importance of thinking beyond earning a business degree to “becoming a part of the community and setting a healthy example for others about the value of giving back.”