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December 5, 2008

  

Marjaree Mason Center one of many campus holiday projects

The Fresno State Alumni Association (FSAA) is helping the community give back this holiday season by holding a drive for the Marjaree Mason Center’s Wish List, one of several university holiday projects. University President John D. Welty and Associated Students President Graham Wahlberg Dec. 2 launched the Fresno State Give a Gobbler Drive, which allows individuals to buy a student-produced turkey for $25, which will then be donated to Poverello House or Community Food Bank. Since the launch, more than 45 turkeys have been sold. The goal is to sell 100 by Dec. 23, when they will be delivered.

Other university drives include the ASI’s Caroling for Cans and the University Student Union Productions’ Blues Benefit Concert Dec. 7 – both to benefit the Bulldog Pantry, which collects food items for distribution to area families in need. The USU also is conducting Operation Overseas, collecting CDs and DVDs to send to U.S. soldiers for the holidays.

The Alumni Association drive for the Marjaree Mason center runs through Dec. 19, when the wish list items will be delivered to the Marjaree Mason Center. For nearly 30 years, the Marjaree Mason Center has offered shelter and support services to victims of domestic violence in Fresno County. The center operates the county’s only domestic violence shelter.

The center was founded in 1979 after the murder of Marjaree Mason, a Fresno State student and longtime Fresno resident. Mason was completing her degree in business administration when she was killed.

“We really wanted to give back to the community and make a difference during the holiday season,” said Sarah Woodward, associate director of the FSAA. “Connecting to the Fresno community is what the Alumni Association is all about, and we are humbled to do our small part.”

Items for the Marjaree Mason Center’s wish list may be dropped off at the Smittcamp Alumni House on campus, as well as at two other campus locations – the Fresno State Winery and at the McKee Fisk Building, Room231. To see the wish list online, go to www.mmcenter.org. For more information about the center or volunteering, call 559.237.4706. For more information about the alumni drive, contact: Sarah Woodard at 559.278.4676 or visit Alumni Connections.

Here is a look at several charity drives going on around campus, ranging from food to toys, in addition to the Fresno State Alumni Association and the Marjaree Mason Center Wish List projects

  • Fresno State Give a Gobbler drive through Dec. 23
    Faculty, staff and student leaders are inviting the campus community and the public to join the Fresno State Give a Gobbler drive and donate a student-produced turkey to help people who are hungry this holiday season. The drive ends Tuesday, Dec. 23. See the progress chart at www.FresnoStateNews.com. For more information: 559.278.4511 or go to Give A Gobbler at Fresno State.

  • The Bulldog Pantry ongoing efforts
    The Bulldog Pantry is a student run food pantry that helps 100 to 150 area families. Every Saturday the Bulldog Pantry opens its doors from 9 to 11 a.m. to distribute bags of groceries to any person that walks through the doors. Cash donations made to the Bulldog Pantry are used to buy food from the Community Food Bank. To make a donation contact Jessica Medina at 559.278.7121. For more information, go to The Bulldog Pantry.

  • 'Def Poetry’ artist Chicago concert Dec. 7
    ‘HBO “Def Poetry” artist – and Fresno State student – Chicago will headline the Blues for Blue concert from 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Fresno State’s Satellite Student Union on campus, 2485 E. San Ramon Ave. The concert will benefit the Bulldog Pantry. Admission to the benefit, presented by USU Productions, is free with five canned food items for Bulldog Pantry. Tickets also may be purchased for $7 for general public and $5 for Fresno State students with valid student ID. All tickets sold at the door. Parking is free. For more information: 278.2741 or go to 'Def Poetry at Fresno State.

  • Associated Students Inc. Caroling for Cans Drive Dec. 11
    Associated Students Inc. and other Fresno State student organizations are holding a canned food drive until Dec. 19. “Caroling for Cans” will be Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 1-3 p.m. Students will visit campus offices and sing Christmas carols. Individuals are encouraged to donate items that will be given to Bulldog Pantry. Donations also can be made in the ASI office, University Student Union, Room 316. To invite these students to your office to pick up cans and sing, RSVP with Alex Andreotti at aandreotti@csufresno.edu. For more information contact Tara Powers at 559.278.2656.

  • University Holiday Celebration Toys for Tots Dec. 16
    The Staff Assembly is teaming up with the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots asking faculty and staff attending to donate to the different organizations at its annual University Holiday Celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 16, in the Residents Dining Hall from 4-6 p.m. For more information contact Terry Lewis at 559.278.5804.

  • Operation Overseas
    University Student Union Productions is collecting CDs and DVDs to send overseas to our troops. The drive is geared to getting students to help provide entertainment to overseas troops during the holiday season Those interested in donating new or used CDs and DVDs in good condition can drop their donations off at the information booth in the student union or in University Student Union, Room 306. The drive ends Friday, Dec. 12. For more information call 559.278.2741.

  • Los Niños festival spotlights author Ben Romero Dec. 6
    Local author Ben Romero and Central California artist Dora Mora will be featured at the Los Niños Holiday Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Fresno Chamber of Commerce Building (2331 Fresno St. in downtown Fresno). Sponsored by the Chicano Alumni chapter of the Fresno State Alumni Association, the annual event promotes literacy in the family for children in foster care. Participating children will receive two books, take a picture with Santa Claus, have lunch and join in a piñata candy bash. Anyone interested in donating books may contact Frances Pena-Olgin at 559.278.5374. For more information online, go to Los Niños festival at Fresno State.

  • Fresno State hosts Dec. 6 Toys for Tots run
    The Craig School of Business will co-sponsor the Pelco Toys for Tots Holiday Fun Run on campus Saturday, Dec. 6. Toys for Tots is a nonprofit organization that collects new, unwrapped toys during the holiday season for distribution to needy children. The program has become Pelco's flagship charity. The company matches one-for-one each toy donated by its employees. The Fun Run helps generate funds matched by Pelco to purchase additional toys. Toy donations will be accepted. For more information, contact Jennifer McClure at Pelco, 559.292.1981, extension 2030 or Sal Ranaphone at the Craig School, 559.278.2352. For more information online, go to Toys for Tots at Fresno State.

  • Kinesiology Pedagogy Club - Craycroft Center Toy and Gift Drive
    On Dec. 13, student members of the Kinesiology Pedagogy Club and Kinesiology faculty and staff delivered over 125 toys to the Craycroft Center, a 30-day emergency shelter run by the Fresno Rescue Mission for abandoned, abused and neglected children who are picked up by Child Protective Services and placed in the center.
     

(University Communications news intern Amanda Fine contributed to this copy.)