![\"Members](\"http:\/\/business.fiu.edu\/newsletters\/BusinessNetworks\/September2006\/images\/09.jpg\" "\\"Members")
\u201cWe are a team of forty business students that has committed to raising $750 each to reach a total of $30,000 through our participation in The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society\u2019s \u201cLight the Night\u00ae Walk\u201d on Saturday, September 16th in downtown Miami,\u201d said Samantha Kugler<\/strong>, Group 21 class president and team leader for the project. In pursuit of her BBA degree, Kugler currently is a trust advisor with Coconut Grove Bank.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving recently lost a cousin to leukemia, I was aware of the society and the work it did. The \u201cLight the Night Walk\u201d is exactly the kind of cause we were looking to support,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Each BBA+ Weekend group chooses a community service project as part of its Business in Society<\/em> class. This team considered several projects but collectively felt that the Light the Night Walk provided an ideal way to reach out to the local community and raise awareness about this life-threatening disease.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the larger themes of the course is helping students realize that business exists within the larger context of the community,\u201d said Robert Hogner<\/strong>, associate professor of management and international business and coordinator of the college\u2019s Civic Engagement Initiative. \u201cThe selected project becomes a practicum in leadership development, teamwork, and logistics\u2014all done with one goal in mind: to help the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking for the team, Kugler said she believes that \u201ctaking on this project is both a learning experience and a demonstration of our commitment to serving the community as a whole as we move out into positions of leadership in the business world.\u201d<\/p>\n Team works hard to meet aggressive fund-raising goals.<\/em><\/p>\n To achieve its goal, the group divided into sub-teams focused on areas such \u201cOur motivation and competitive spirit are strong,\u201d Kugler said. \u201cWe want to top the dollar amount raised by the last group\u2019s project, which netted about $27,000.\u201d<\/p>\n To meet its objective, the group is seeking corporate sponsorships as well as individual donations.<\/p>\n Corporate sponsors can pledge to gold, platinum, and titanium levels, with each level based on donation amounts and offering recognition through plaques and logo displays on t-shirts and banners to be worn and paraded during the actual \u201cLight the Night Walk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition to our web site, we have sent targeted letters to potential corporate sponsors,\u201d Kugler said. \u201cTeam members also are hitting the streets, making one-on-one visits to businesses to encourage donations. We are using every vehicle available to us to get the message out there!\u201d<\/p>\n Donald Roomes<\/strong>, director of the college\u2019s BBA+ program, applauds the work of the Group 21 team.<\/p>\n \u201cLike many others before them, this team has embraced its project with a united spirit and a vision of doing something really special,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat we have here is not merely a course requirement, but a larger-than-life, character-building experience for these students. It was an awesome feeling just being with them in the classroom as they stuffed envelopes for potential sponsors. Their sense of purpose and commitment to making a difference in the larger \u2018classroom of life\u2019 was so clearly evident.\u201d<\/p>\n Your support is welcomed.<\/em><\/p>\n The Group 21 team invites you to support its participation in the \u201cLight the Night Walk\u201d on Saturday, September 16, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m, at Bay Front Park in downtown Miami.<\/p>\n The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is the world\u2019s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education, and patient services. The society meets the standards of the Better Business Bureau for charitable accountability. \u201cLight the Night Walk\u201d events take place nationally in different cities at different times.<\/p>\n \u201cOur team will be there in Miami in full force, walking alongside both survivors and supporters,\u201d Kugler said. \u201cAny and all support will be greatly appreciated.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Light](\"http:\/\/business.fiu.edu\/newsletters\/BusinessNetworks\/September2006\/images\/LOGO.GIF\" "\\"Light"){kind=logo}
<\/em>as marketing, accounting, and logistics\u2014the same critical operations that any business project would encompass.<\/p>\n