Students double funds raised for Relay for Life at SUNY New Paltz

NEW PALTZ – Students at the State University of New York at New Paltz doubled the total dollars raised previously for the recent American Cancer Society’s® (ACS) Relay For Life held on the campus. According to event organizers, David Manis ’13 (Business) and Sarah Sobel ’13 (Communication), a total of $24,000 was raised through a series of fundraising events, online outreach for donations to family and friends, Relay for Life teams, raffles, and money that was contributed during the Relay for Life held on April 21.

Approximately 500 people attended the New Paltz Relay For Life over the a 12-hour period. Manis and Sobel said the festivities included performances by several student vocal groups; music provided by DJs from WFNP “The Edge,” the campus radio station; a celebrity look-alike contest; and games.

The co-chairs headed a committee of 20 students who started preparing for the event back in September. They said the key to their success was a good deal of publicity, using flyers, posters, table tents, Facebook, and presentations before student clubs, in residence halls and to community service groups to spread the word. They also received support from the local community with many New Paltz businesses providing gift certificates to raise additional funds. On campus support was provided by the Student Association and Union Services, Campus Auxiliary Services, Residence Life, and Joan Perisse and Mary Fakler, their faculty advisors from the English department.

Manis, who is a cancer survivor, took on leadership for the event to give back to the ACS. “My motivation was to give back to the American Cancer Society for research and the treatment it provides,” said Manis. “(The organization) helped me to be healthy and stay healthy.” Sobel has participated in the Relay for Life in her hometown for the past six years. She said the event gave her an opportunity “to put my leadership skills into motion. I learned how to lead and follow-up with people, and to delegate,” she added.

ACS Director of Special Events Anna Trocino said the students at New Paltz worked hard to make the event a success. “The SUNY New Paltz Relay For Life made tremendous strides this year. Over the past nine months, the student committee has worked tirelessly to implement new strategies and recruit committee members to re-energize this event. While the donations are still being totaled, it’s fair to say that their efforts are evident in the results, “said Trocino. “The success can be credited to the incredible student leadership of the co-chairs, Sarah Sobel and David Manis. It has been a pleasure to work with such passionate volunteers and I can only look forward to what they have in store for next year,” she added.

As a result of their involvement with the Relay for Life, both Manis and Sobel are now interning at the ACS office in New Windsor, N.Y. They will also be back to chair next year’s New Paltz event and already see potential for raising even more funds through additional outreach on campus and in the community.

For more information about the New Paltz Relay For Life or any other Relay For Life in the Hudson Valley Region, visit relayforlife.org or contact Trocino at anna.trocino@cancer.org.