Blitz Week Benefits Family Promise

Blitz Week, an annual week of fundraising by Oklahoma Baptist University students for charity, raised more than $5,000 to benefit Family Promise of Shawnee, a non-profit organization that provides homeless families with children temporary housing and supportive services. Through the help of local churches and faith communities, Family Promise seeks to equip the families for a self-sustaining future.

The week of events, April 18-25, was filled with various fundraising events including an art auction sponsored by Mortar Board. The auction raised nearly $1,000. Pieces auctioned off were created by students during a campus-wide paint-a-thon April 14.

The week also included a faculty versus varsity basketball game, including half-time entertainment performed by female faculty and staff members. Thursday's Sonic Night became the second-largest fundraising event, bringing in $850, through donations from the Shawnee community. Student volunteers staked out at various Shawnee Sonic locations and asked for donations to help Family Promise. Historically, Sonic Night has been one of the largest fundraisers for the past three years.

The week finished strong with a Friday-night '80s event raising $200, and Stampede, an event including an array of competitive games on Saturday.

"I just hope that, first of all, the funds show Family Promise that we care about what they are doing," said Corey DeGiacomo, Blitz Week co-chair. "Secondly, I hope that the funds provide a little bit of fresh air in this economic down time."

Blitz Week co-chairs said they hope to deliver the funds to Family Promise before the end of the spring semester. Along with raising funds, Blitz Week raised awareness about Family Promise and their dedication to the Shawnee community. Students were given the opportunity to sign-up and volunteer at Family Promise. Several students signed up to be volunteers or to receive Family Promise news via e-mail.

"I hope that the money provides relief physically while also having an affect on the organization that is bigger than just monetary help," said DeGiacomo, a senior from Inola, Okla.

For more information about Family Promise of Shawnee, visit www.familypromiseshawnee.org.