Clawed D. Eagle, AU's mascot, took time away from the court and lent a feather to help raise money for community service on Wednesday at TDR.
Clawed and student leaders worked with Bon Appetit to raise Eagle Endowment Fund for Public and Community Service, which gives grants as great as $1,000 to students and clubs that want to start community service projects, according to sophomore Mark Seaman, executive director of the Eagle Endowment.
The Eagle Endowment Day was the group's first fundraiser of the year. While TDR was open, students could donate meal blocks to the Eagle Endowment.
The Eagle Endowment expected to raise between $1,000 to $2,500, Seaman said. As of lunchtime, totals were $1,700 and at dinner, a little over $3,000 had been raised. They ended up raising $5,400, which means over 1,800 meal blocks were donated, according to Seaman.
"We had no idea that the event would be this successful. We more than tripled our goal," Seaman said. "We're hoping to have a second Eagle Endowment Day next semester or maybe next year."
Student Confederation President Nick Terzulli was pleased with the fundraiser's success.
"The Student Confederation is extremely pleased with Mark Seaman and the excitement that he is bringing to the Eagle Endowment," Terzulli said. "Students are really riding on the idea."
Terzulli donated meal blocks at lunch and stopped by at dinner to donate more, but he wasn't the only one.
"Some donated as high as fifty swipes on their meal plan," said Seaman. "For each swipe, three dollars is donated to the fund."
Bon Appetit was happy to co-sponsor the program.
Seaman approached Jack Cahill, general manager of Bon Appetit.
"The Endowment is just such a great cause I couldn't say no," said Cahill. "I felt they would have the opportunity to raise a sizable amount of money. We are pleased to have this opportunity."
Members of Seaman's Student Board of Advisors were on hand to urge students to donate.
"I've worked with Habitat for Humanity before, so I wanted to find out more about the Eagle Endowment," said Daniel Murphy, a sophomore and member of the Board of Advisors. "If the Endowment continues, in 20 years we can give a whole lot more money than what we're giving now."
Others agreed on the value of the endowment.
"I think it's a really good program," said AU junior and board member Katie Cummings. "Because of the Endowment, the AU community now has the services and resources to do large service projects. It's a huge help to them."
Some AU students said they were pleased with the idea as well.
Freshman Seth Johnson also recognized the benefits of the endowment as he donated meal blocks.
"It helps to actively engage AU students in the world in which they live and will be living in for the years to come," said Johnson.
Others thought this fundraiser specifically was good.
"I think it's great ... our money is taken at the end of the year, so it's a perfect way to help out the community and get rid of extra meal blocks," freshman Tessa Hollyn Taub said.
Some AU students were eager to begin their own service projects through the Endowment.
"It's a worthwhile organization," sophomore Mitch Stern said. "My business is teaching CPR to surrounding community members. Maybe the program can help me by making my services free."
Another fundraiser Seaman plans this year includes selling a T-shirt in the Campus Store. The shirts will have "American Volunteer" across the front and a portion of its sales will be donated to the Endowment. Students are encouraged to wear the shirts at their community service projects, Seaman said.
For more information about the Eagle Endowment, visit their Web site at www.american.edu/volunteer and click on "Eagle Endowment"
