SGA approves Relay for Life program grant request

The Senate unanimously approved a $10,000 program grant for Relay for Life — a communitybased fundraising event for the American Cancer Society — for its main event on April 28. Relay for Life requested the grant to help cover event fees, activities, entertainment and participation incentives.

Senior Brandon Market, who also serves as SGA’s executive treasurer, represented Relay for Life. According to Relay for Life’s presentation, the event unites over 100 JMU clubs and organizations. This year, the event will be co-hosted by the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and Sigma Phi Delta fraternity.

Market said Relay for Life is JMU’s topperforming fundraising event. During last year’s Relay for Life, more than 1,000 people participated, and over $150,000 was raised, Market said.

The $10,000 grant will be supplemented by the group’s own fundraising efforts. Market said $10,000 is the maximum amount of money for an approvable program grant.

Throughout the first semester, $38,600 was raised from other fundraising efforts, which included events like the Kickoff Event, Back to School Basket Challenge, Breast Week Ever and $48 in 48 Challenge, Market said.

“Not only [is] the legacy of this event… impressive but it is an organization that lets students participate in a community greater than JMU,” junior Matt Haynicz, SGA representative, said.

CONTACT Eleanor Shaw at shaweo@dukes. jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.