The all-day Relay for Life features on-campus activities such as the “Protect Your Balls” dodgeball tournament, “Ms. Relay” drag competition, and “Relay Idol” lip-synching contest, all performed with the goal of raising funds for cancer research and awareness. In its fifth year, the event is starting to establish itself as a campus tradition with increasing student body support—but not, it seems, financial support.
Overseen by the American Cancer Society, this year’s Relay for Life—which will take place Saturday—has witnessed a significant decrease in donations. As of press time Thursday night, fundraising totaled at around half the average amounts gathered in previous years.
“I think it’s just that people can’t give as much this year,” said Emily Sikora, SEAS ’08 and co-chair of Relay for Life.
The downturn in donations, which Sikora saw as a reflection of the current economy, has affected participating universities across the board, many of which have seen marked decreases in contributions.
Columbia organizers aimed to raise $100,000 this year, though Sikora and co-chair Gabriela Vargas, SEAS ’08, acknowledged that they had high expectations. As of Thursday, Relay for Life had raised around $47,000, with donations still coming in—an amount in marked contrast to the average $81,500 the program has raised per year over the past four.
The top college fundraiser for 2008, the University of Michigan, raised $181,713.12—a drop in comparison to the $210,626 it collected last year. And after raising $244,576 in 2007—the second largest donation pool of 2007—Georgetown University has dipped to $163,340.75.
According to an employee from the American Cancer Society hotline, the general Relay for Life program—in spite of the phenomena at a number of colleges—has not seen a decrease, but rather an increase in donations.
“They’ve been going up,” the employee said. “I haven’t seen a steady decline.”
In Vargas’ time working on Relay for Life this year, she has not seen a significant decrease in the number of donors, but rather in the amount of the donations. “It’s just that people are a little more tight right now,” Vargas explained.
Decreased donations could also result from an upswing in community service and philanthropic groups on campus. With the CU Dance Marathon, Columbia Community Outreach day, and other campus fundraising and community service events, the Relay for Life chairs felt that the abundance of groups may have split the attention of potential volunteers on campus, and led to a reluctance in repeatedly appealing to donors for contributions.
“There’s just so many different opportunities on campus that I don’t blame them,” Sikora said.
But Relay for Life organizers have been forced to compensate for what the economy has lacked. By beginning to establish a stronghold on campus, the event has garnered the interest of more and more student groups, schools, and student council members.
Vargas and Sikora have begun soliciting smaller venues, such as travel and fitness clubs, as well as on-campus ticket venues and performing arts groups for gifts and contributions.
Still, while donations may have dwindled, turnout has remained strong. As of Thursday night, 539 participants had registered, and this year’s race has seen increased support from the law and business schools.
“It was so moving to see so many people in the community together for that one cause,” Vargas said. “That’s so amazing to me.”
alix.pianin@columbiaspectator.com