Non-Profit Marketing Sequence:
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MBA students from the Williams College of Business have returned from spending five days in Guatemala, learning how they can help reduce that nation’s severe illiteracy rate.
The students returned with a greater appreciation of Guatemala’s people and their needs.
Student Rudy Vliegenberg of Holland felt a loving connection with the Guatemalans he met.
“Though I spent just a few hours with them, we built a better relationship than I have with some people I’ve known for years,” he said. “The moment I left Guatemala, I felt that something was missing in my life, something that was so real, and something I want to fight for.”
Student Kimberly Todd of Independence, Kentucky, called the experience “eye-opening.”
“I would do it again in an instant,” she said.
The trip was part of an effort to raise money for reading and writing programs in Guatemala. In addition, the students hope their trip inspires future Xavier MBA students to strive to make a difference in their communities and around the world.
Guatemala has the worst literacy record in Latin America. Seventy-five percent of the people who live in the countryside are illiterate. Seventy-five percent of Guatemalans live below the nation’s poverty line.
Students came up with the idea to go to Guatemala as part of a series of three courses offered this summer by the Williams College of Business. The courses teach the students how to manage, market and raise funds for non-profit organizations. It’s the only business school in Greater Cincinnati offering business courses focusing entirely on non-profit organizations.
The students worked with Cooperative for Education, a Hyde Park-based non-profit organization that strives to improve literacy and education in Guatemala. They will continue working with the organization on a long-term basis.
Robert McDonald M.D., of Pittsburgh, a 1955 Xavier alumnus, gave the seed money that caused the students to start the project. He gave $10,000 to several Xavier projects, including $3,000 for the students’ trip. Dr. McDonald’s intent is to help students learn about and interact with the poor and hungry. The Church of the Good Samaritan in Knoxville, Tennessee gave an additional $1,000. One of the MBA students is a member of the church. The students also acted as consultants during the summer courses to three other Cincinnati non-profit organizations: Churches Active in Northside (CAIN); Healthy Visions; and STOP AIDS. |
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Follow the students on their trip by reading their blog:
Click the following link to see what the NPM team is up to right now as they prepare for thier mission in Guatemala! During the trip, the team will be posting updates about what they are up to.
http://nonprofitgroupx.blogspot.com/
Non-Profit marketing team:
Jeremy Drury |
Kimberly Todd |
Deanna Powell |
Jeff Hoppe |
Rutger Vliegenberg |
David Burns |
Chris Manolis |
Sandra Richtermeyer |