Wayne Black Business Student Association establishes WarriorFunder project
Being part of a student organization at the Mike Ilitch School of Business is a great way for budding professionals to develop leadership skills and learn to work in teams. In addition to engaging and networking with business professionals as well as participating in volunteering efforts, they also organize various fundraising campaigns.
The latest of which is a push by the Wayne Black Business Student Association—an entity established to introduce students of color to entrepreneurship, leadership, diversity and inclusion—to raise money for a scholarship.
The students utilized WarriorFunder, Wayne State University’s crowdfunding platform for student community-based fundraising. Donors have a new avenue to provide support directly to the schools, programs and specific projects at the university that are most meaningful to them. Through WarriorFunder, students, alumni, friends, faculty and staff can make a collective impact on our campus community.
The initial ask was $500, said Kiantee Jones, assistant dean of graduate programs at the Ilitch School and faculty advisor to the association. But that goal was met within days because of the overwhelming support it received from faculty at the Ilitch School, she said.
“Because of that momentum, the students and I agreed that it would be worthwhile to up the donation goal.”
The target is now at $1,500 with 44 days left in the campaign.
Through networking and leadership activities, the WBBSA strives to connect graduate, undergraduate and high school students with African American business professionals in order to mold the next generation of African American business leaders. The association’s objectives are to organize job shadowing experiences, a professional speaker series and a corporate advisory board for mentorship.
