The University held its fourth annual Rock ‘N Raise event in Jules L. Plangere Jr. Center for Communication on Friday, Feb. 21 to raise funds for The American Cancer Society and Relay For Life. The student-run television station, Hawk TV, and the student-run radio station, WMCX, hosted the event and raised over $1,800, the largest profit gained in the history of the event.
Relay For Life will take place Friday, April 25 at the University.According to relayforlife.org, “…communities across the globe come together [for the event] to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that has already taken too much.”
To raise money for this cause, University organizations hosted a battle of the bands and broadcasted the performances through WMCX and Hawk TV. The performing bands included Strangers You Know, From The Ground, Diego and Lot 25, and The Gray Americans. There were also three acoustic performers showcased during the fundraiser; Natalie Zeller, Bri Merriman and Brian Perrino.
The winners, The Gray Americans, won Avid Pro Tools, a digital audio program.
Belinda Rao, Hawk TV’s executive producer and a senior communication major, said promoting and preparing for the event involved a lot of work. “We sent out press releases, flyers on campus, commercials on Hawk TV and WMCX, printed an ad in The Outlook, and promoted it at local restaurants,” Rao said. Hawk TV was responsible for finding bands and crew, writing scripts, and meeting with advisors, producers and the director to prepare for the event, she added.
Kelly Brockett, CEO of the Shadow PR firm and co-President of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), reached out to different organizations on campus to help support the fundraiser and also to promote their own causes.
Kristi Silver, co-President of the Shadow PR Firm PRSSA Chapter, said, “We tabled at the event to promote… the first ever dance-a-thon at Monmouth.”
Silver said the event is taking place to raise money for The Valerie Fund, a not-for-profit organization that aims to provide comprehensive health care and support for children with cancer and rare blood disorders. “We will donate the money we raise to the local center at Monmouth Medical; therefore we are specifically helping children within our community,” Silver added.
Along with PRSSA, Hawk TV, WMCX, and Relay For Life, the other local organizations that tabled at the event included The Outlook, The Residential Hall Association (RHA), Boom Roasted Productions (the University’s student-run theatre group) and COREiculum.
Andy Stern, Founder and COREiculum Professor, attended the event in honor of his organization. “I work closely with PRSSA, who invited me to support the cause. With COREiculum starting at Monmouth, we always like to come back and support great events and causes. The event itself is important because every dollar raised is one dollar closer to finding a cure,” Stern said.
COREiculum’s table showcased a pinwheel featuring eight different exercises. When a student spun the wheel and completed the exercise, COREiculum donated a dollar to the Relay For Life cause.
Along with the support of local groups, Hawk TV and WMCX also raised funds through other means. The organization gained money through ticket sales. The tickets were sold for $3 prior to the event and $5 at the door. They also sold food and drinks, such as hotdogs, chips, soda, and Relay For Life items.
Luminaria bags were sold for decoration at $5 apiece. According to relayforlife.org, “Luminaria bags are transformed and illuminated after dark at every local Relay For Life event. Each luminaria is personalized with a name, photo, message or drawing in memory or honor of a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer…. Each luminaria candle represents a person.”
During Relay For Life, teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around a track or specified area. The event is up to 24 hours long and, “because cancer never sleeps,” each team must have at least one participant walking on the course at all times, relayforlife.org explained.
The website added, “Every year, the Relay For Life movement raises more than $400 million. The American Cancer Society puts these donations to work, investing in groundbreaking research in every type of cancer and providing free information and services to cancer patients and their caregivers. We’re fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer, in your community and everyone else’s.”
Rachel Gramuglia, Associate Producer of Hawk TV and a junior communication major, said Rock N’ Raise was a successful event. “I personally think that the event couldn’t have gone any better. Everything was fluid, the transitions were smooth, and no one felt out of place.”
PHOTO COURTESY of Rachel Gramuglia
