BYU students are raising donations for a variety of causes through events, booths, competitions and more during Care Week 2024, uniting students and giving back to communities on and off campus.
“Care Week is the only week out of each semester … where BYUSA clubs and academic associations are able to raise money for nonprofit organizations,” Ezra Leauanae, BYUSA VP of Clubs, said. “Within this week, they're able to create events, competitions, tournaments, whatever it may be, to promote, to raise money for that organization. And then all that money is then donated to the organization of their choice.”
Nineteen clubs are participating in Care Week, held from Nov. 18-23. Each club selected the charity or cause they wanted to support through a variety of activities and fundraising efforts.
A lot of clubs find their sole purpose in serving students and creating communities, but Care Week helps them to find another purpose in serving the greater community, Leauanae said.
“This is the one time each semester where we're encouraging clubs to now take what they've learned, the community that they've built through clubs, and then contribute that to a greater cause outside of the campus,” he said.
Some of these charities included food banks, nonprofit housing organizations, medical foundations and many others.
“It’s a record breaking amount (of events). Because I know in the last couple years we’ve had like 10 to 15, but this year we’ve had 25. (It’s) really exciting,” Leauanae said.
Allysa Sumang, the social media officer for the Filipino club, said that their club is holding a talent show and all funds will go to an orphanage in Mindanao.
“We have people who are singing, dancing. Some people do taekwondo. This one guy has a pitch perfect hearing. So it's going to be really fun,” Sumang said.
Helping with the event made her feel like she was contributing to a bigger cause, and the cause the club is supporting was important, Sumang said.
“For me, doing this kind of thing, even though it's small—I find it worth doing,” she said.
Sama Salah, president and co-founder of the Arab Student Association, is hosting an event called Gather for Gaza and Lebanon, which will donate their funds to The Gaza Soup Kitchen and Hope Humanitarian’s Urgent Response in Lebanon.
“I think coming to an event, learning about Arab culture, donating money … you get to do something,” Salah said. “We are a lot stronger when we come together to do good.”
Good can come from people coming together for a common cause, and last year’s event was very successful, raising $1,500, Salah said.
The Anti-Human Trafficking Club is hosting a Spikeball tournament to raise funds for Libertas International, Rachel Pool, the club's events coordinator, said.
“I just hope everyone can come and mostly focus on the good cause, but also have a good time and just recognize that there is something that we can do," Pool said. "Even the littlest of things can help make a difference."
With Care Week being the only week they are able to fundraise, Pool said it is cool to first hear about these issues from speakers, and then have these fundraisers to see it all connect.
“I just want people to know that there are people who are out there suffering that we can't see, you know? And just because I think we live a really happy, prosperous life, it's hard for us to really see the suffering of other people,” Pool said. “But there is something that we can do, even if it's just $5.”
For those who would like to see a full list of activities going on for this year’s Care Week, visit the BYU Student Connection and Leadership Center's Care Week website, or stop by the Wilkinson Student Center from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. during the week of Nov. 18 to see some of the booths set up to promote the clubs’ causes.