The regular beat of the “Jeopardy” tune echoed all through the Titan Student Union Pub at HopeFull’s first membership occasion. The newly fashioned campus group hosted a ticketed charity Jeopardy recreation this previous Thursday to lift cash to assist fund households with meals insecurity.
Fourth-year enterprise main and HopeFull President Andon Araque helped kind the membership this semester and had been making an attempt to start out the membership at Cal State Fullerton for the final 4 years.
“This club, HopeFull, started at my old high school,” Araque mentioned. “They did garage fundraisers, where they were able to raise thousands of dollars to convert into restaurant gift cards to give to families in need.”
The membership’s mission is to assist increase cash for households and supply them with reward playing cards for native eating places, to allow them to have good meals. They imagine that meals carry households collectively and foster connection and belonging.
Fourth-year finance main and HopeFull Treasurer Arielle Cortez expressed the significance of supporting the membership’s trigger.
“I know how much community service means for others and this charity goes to a good cause, helping other people be able to get meals at local establishments rather than having to rely on food banks,” Arielle Cortez mentioned.
HopeFull’s companion Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, is a corporation that helps kind connections with numerous charities.
They act as a bridge between golf equipment and the general public, permitting them to distribute the funds that the membership raises.
“Our partnership specifically allows us to give the gift cards that we raise from the fundraisers to them and they help us identify who needs the help the most,” Araque mentioned.
Tickets for his or her Jeopardy occasion had been $8.50 every and the gross sales from their occasion went immediately to purchasing the reward playing cards for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to distribute.
According to Araque, their first occasion had the objective to not solely create a optimistic impression for households, but in addition create an area the place college students might meet new folks and create their very own neighborhood.
“I know a lot of people when they enter college, especially freshmen, have trouble making friends, and people were looking for events,” Araque mentioned. “We were looking to create an event for people to have fun with their friends or also meet new people.”
Participants of the occasion had been break up up into groups of two and given quantity paddles to lift when answering the questions. The membership additionally offered free drinks and snacks for the members.
Arielle Cortez mentioned she believes the membership can encourage others to present again, whereas additionally assembly new folks and spreading consciousness.
“I think this will give some people a sense of community and be able to give back and also I think make new relationships and possibly continue this outside of campus,” Arielle Cortez mentioned.
This first occasion is simply the beginning for this membership and they’re hoping to develop their membership and collect extra volunteers.
Bryan Cortez, the membership’s volunteer coordinator and fourth-year accounting main, understands the significance of charities and joined the membership with out hesitation after listening to about it from Araque.
“He told me that we’re doing a charity thing and I just signed up,” Bryan Cortez mentioned. “I said yes, I didn’t even ask.”
He mentioned he believes that the membership will present folks with a chance for college students who must get their neighborhood service hours, but in addition have a enjoyable time.
He encourages others to volunteer as a enjoyable and significant possibility for getting out and getting concerned on campus.
“A fun time, a way to basically help give to charity while being able to just have fun with it,” Bryan Cortez mentioned.
HopeFull appears ahead to persevering with their work and rising their membership for a significant trigger.
“We’re just hoping to give opportunities for students, to put themselves out there (and) become something more than they already are,” Araque mentioned.