ALS fundraiser a hands-on event for Clemson MBA students

Giving back to the community is a good business practice and Clemson University MBA students are doing so in a way that benefits a worthy cause, challenges their skills and connects them with the community.

The MBA Student Association (MBASA) is hosting its second annual fundraiser, “One Main Roar,” on Friday, April 12 to raise money for the Greenville Health System ALS Clinic, and the patients and families of the upstate living with ALS.

Commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. Each year, about 5,600 people are newly diagnosed with the disease, and the average life expectancy is two to five years.

“One Main Roar” will commence at 6 p.m. in the Greenville ONE building, 1 North Main St., in Greenville. In addition to dinner, beverages and a silent auction, The Steve Watson Trio and Special Guest Curtis Calderon with John Hoppe, a jazz ensemble, will provide the evening’s entertainment.

Steve Foytlin, lead-organizer of the event, said the student association broke from tradition last year with a service project directly owned by the MBA program rather than under the umbrella of another organization. Last year, the event raised $14,000 for the ALS Clinic.

“‘One Main Roar’ connects the MBA program with the community by raising money that will have a real-world impact for Greenville Health’s ALS Clinic,” Foytlin said. “And, organizing the event is also a great opportunity for the MBA cohorts to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom. Everyone comes out a winner in an event like this.”

Tickets for the business formal fundraiser are $85 and can be purchased at Eventbrite. MBASA is also looking for sponsorships, monetary support and auction items. For more information, contact Steve Foytlin at sfoytli@g.clemson.edu.

“The capacity for our event is 120 and we’re hoping to reach that before April,” Foytlin said. “As this annual event builds momentum, we think it can provide an even greater service to the community and create more of an awareness of the Clemson MBA program’s many contributions to the upstate.”

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