FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 19, 2015

Contact: Elizabeth Zimmerman

Tel. 614.432.2963
Email: ezimmerman7@elon.edu
EVENT MANAGEMENT CLASS TO
HOST SIGN LANGUAGE EVENT
BENEFITTING LOCAL CHARITY
ELON, N.C. - Students of the Sport and Event Management class, Event
Management, are putting their skills to the test by hosting a
fundraising dinner benefiting Communication Services for the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing Inc. located in Greensboro.
The Event Management class (SEM 427) is a unique take on
engaged learning at Elon. According to the Elon course brochure,
students enrolled in the course study the principles of organization,
planning and group dynamics as they apply to special event
management in sport and recreation. Students also plan and
administer an actual event to benefit a local philanthropy as chosen by
the class.
The students formulated the idea for their event after learning
about a sign language restaurant in Toronto called Signs. The
concept for the restaurant is simple -- guests are given menus with
illustrations of hand signs that correlate with various food options, the
guests then sign the item to the all-deaf wait staff who bring them
their dish. The Event Management students hope to mirror this concept
at their event, Sign & Dine.
After researching the difficulties that the deaf community face in
terms of obtaining adequate funding for interpreters or translation
technology, the students of the Event Management class decided that
the funds raised through the Sign & Dine dinner should benefit a local
charity that strives to provide the deaf community with these
necessary materials -- Communications Services for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing Inc. (CSDHH) in Greensboro.
CSDHHs mission, according to their website, is to ensure equal
access for the deaf and hard of hearing by providing services to
enhance communication through community outreach and advocacy.

-moreThe students were drawn to the organization because of

CSDHHs commitment to not only providing services for deaf
individuals, but also to advocate for and to raise awareness of the
cause in the central North Carolina area. By bringing Sign & Dine to
Elon, students hope to raise both funds for and awareness of the deaf
community.
The event will be held on April 27 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
in the McBride Gathering Space in the Numen Lumen Pavilion. Dinner
will be tacos with various toppings served by local, certified American
Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. Tickets are $5.00 for students, $8.00
for community members and can be purchased April 23, 24 and 27 in
the Moseley Center or online at www.signanddineelon.eventbrite.com
###
Students in the Event Management course study the principles of
organization, planning and group dynamics as they apply to special
event management in sport and recreation. Students also learn to
identify, develop and apply component skills such as needs
assessment, inventory and evaluation. Students will plan and
administer an actual event (Sign & Dine). Our goal is to raise a
substantial amount of funding for our chosen philanthropy,
Communications Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Inc. located in
Greensboro, N.C. through donations and proceeds from our taco dinner.
For more information regarding Sign & Dine, please contact Elizabeth
Zimmerman at 614.432.2963 or ezimmerman7@elon.edu.