Compete for a Cause

Group Members:
1. Madison Gamble
2. Phuc Truong
Faculty Advisor: Jeanine S. Stewart
Estimated Total Cost: $3,000
Project Description:
Research has shown that both exercising and participating in community service
are beneficial to ones mental and physical health. These are life habits that we believe
all people have a responsibility to advocate and practice not only for the enhancement of
self, but most importantly to make the community a better, healthier place. The
purpose of the event Compete for a Cause, is to engage people from the Westminster
community, faculty and staff of McDaniel College, and members of local organizations
in a day of fun and competition in order to spread awareness for charity campaigns,
foster cooperation and understanding amongst these groups, and encourage active
living.
Compete for a Cause will take place during the Spring Semester of 2015. Anyone
interested in participating in the event will find information and updates on the
Compete for a Cause Facebook page which we will maintain. Here, individuals will be
able to register for the event and post any questions they may have regarding Compete
for a Cause. On January 1st, 2015 the official registration forms will be released.
Each Compete for a Cause team will consist of five representatives/participants of
a local charity or organization (charities/organizations selected beforehand by the
Compete for a Cause committee) along with 10 people from either the McDaniel or
Westminster community. Possible Charities include: the Boys and Girls Club of
Westminster, Habitat for Humanity, local homeless shelters, soup kitchens, Childrens
Guild, and Carroll Hospital Center. A maximum of 4 teams will be formed. Upon
registering, each individual will have the choice of which organizations team he/she
would like to be a part of, assuming the team has not already been filled. After February
1st, anyone who registers will be placed on a team according to available spots. Once the
individual is registered, he/she can then begin collecting flat donations (sponsors
provide a cash or check) and/or pledges (amount of money sponsors agree to donate per
competition the team wins the day of the event).
Compete for a Cause will rely on the help of the Alpha Phi Omega Service
Fraternity and Gamma Sigma Sigma Service Sorority. Members of these groups will help
with coordination by setting up equipment and serving as referees who keep record of
points. Student and faculty volunteers will also help run the competitions. Sign-ups for
volunteering will occur outside of Glar for three weeks in January of 2015. A total of 30
volunteers will be needed. All of these volunteers will serve on the Compete for a Cause
committee and will be wearing nametags the day of the event. In preparation, the

committee will advertise for the event, contact each organization involved, order
supplies, and organize for food to be catered. The food provided will be free to both
participants of Compete for a Cause and to those spectating.
Between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm on the day of Compete for a Cause, spectators
and participants will have an opportunity to get food and visit tables set up on the
football field featuring the various charities and organizations. There will also be
donation boxes available for anyone who would like to give money to a charity or
organization the day of the event. Any food left over after the event will be donated to
the Safe Haven shelter. At 12:00 pm an opening ceremony will take place. During this
time, teams will assemble and introduce themselves and their organization to the
spectators, explaining how organization/charity impacts the community. Then the
teams will receive a list of the activities for the day. The referees will guide the teams
to the various locations where the competitions will be set up. The activities will include:
tug of war, obstacle course, relay races, capture the flag, exercise/nutrition trivia, giant
volleyball match, and a scavenger hunt. Once the challenges have been completed, the
volunteers will total up the points and announce the winner at the closing ceremony at
approximately 3:00 pm. The winning team will be presented with $1,000 to add to its
total donations. All pledges and donations will be due to the Compete for a Cause
committee approximately one month after the event. The committee will then present
each organization with its teams donations.
The expected result of Compete for a Cause is to create a greater awareness for
the philanthropic groups in our community. Additionally, the outcome is to spark an
interest for volunteerism and activism among participants. The goal is for each team to
raise at least $500 to benefit their charity or organization. Furthermore, each Compete
for a Cause competitor will experience a fun day of exercise, hopefully inspiring them to
pursue an active lifestyle. The value of teamwork and collaboration will also be stressed
for the purpose of promoting these ideas as important and necessary for progress in the
community.
Personal Interest:
Madison: I enjoy volunteering because it offers the opportunity to give back to
others. I especially like serving the homeless and the less fortunate whether that be
through a homeless shelter or through an organization that collects donated goods. I
also have a passion for helping those who suffer from malnutrition, lack of education,
and poor living conditions within orphanages. I have been involved with events like
World Visions 30 Hour Famine and the Crop Walk for Hunger. In addition, I organized
a Swim for Her Meet event with my swim team to raise money for breast cancer
survivors. Due to the wide range of issues I am interested in addressing, I was
motivated to create the Compete for a Cause event in order to provide community
members the opportunity to explore and work for causes they are passionate about.
Phuc: In the past, I have volunteered in orphanages and nursing homes. I
enjoyed these experiences because I was able to gain awareness for the lifestyles of other
people, while making a positive difference in their lives. Additionally, along with other
students at my school in Vietnam, I made hand crafts which were sold in order to

benefit student organizations. I liked that this project was a friendly way to help my
peers and also an opportunity to try making art. My volunteer work in orphanages and
nursing homes has demonstrated to me that there is a need for people to work on behalf
of orphans and the elderly. Volunteering has shown me how my work can bring aid to
others. I was inspired to create Compete for Cause to raise awareness for the
organizations that work on behalf of issues that are often overlooked. Additionally, I
would like to see charities and community members engaging with one another to
potentially result in collaborative volunteer work.
With so many charities and organizations available, it can be difficult to hear
about the many ways to get involved in the community. Sometimes individuals need
inspiration for volunteering. Compete for a Cause aims to challenge citizens to advocate
for a cause and to begin working to make it a success.
Budget:
Type

Compa
ny

Food

Sodexo
Shoestri
ng
Catering

Item
numbe
r

Single
Name
Single
Servi
Servin
of item price
ngs
Amount gs
Price
6-foot
Grilled
Vegetabl
e
Hoagie
73
12
2
24
146
6-foot
Turkey
Hoagie
70
12
7
84
490
6-foot
Italian
Hoagie
73
12
7
84
511
Fruit
platter
40
25
4
100
160
Member
's Mark
water
from
Sam's
Club
3.98
40
5
200
19.9

Equipm
ent*
Great
Lakes
Sports
Great
Lakes
Sports
EZ
Party
Zone
Oriental

OS20250

Obstacle
course
kit

485.99

485.99

GT20XX

Hurdles

44.99

44.99

99506
IN-

Balloons
Tug-of-

5.98
26.98

1
1

5.98
26.98

Trading
Online
fabric
Store
Everrich
Prize for
winner
Total

61/9046
BURBA
G7
EVREVC0050

war
Rope
Sacks
for Sack
race
Giant
Volleyba
ll

17.95
64.39

17.95

64.39
1000
2973.18

Materials to borrow from Fitness Buddies (of which Madison is a member)

Hula hoops
Cones
Materials to borrow from McDaniel College:
stage
microphone
tables
Additional materials:
volleyball net (Madison owns)
bandanas (Madison owns)
cardboard boxes for obstacle tunnels
pictures of the McDaniel and Westminster community to use for the Scavenger
Hunt