Business students turn out to volunteer
Six local charities benefit, despite low turnout of Neeley school students

By Melissa Christensen
Staff Reporter

In an effort to break their reputation as paper-pushers, about 75 M.J. Neeley Business School students volunteered for six Fort Worth charities Saturday.

Isa Peña, a senior finance and management major, said the day was also a response to students who mentioned that in interviews, future employers asked about community involvement.

“Everywhere you look, companies are getting more involved with the community,” she said. “It’s a worthwhile experience all around, and it reflects better on the person.”

Although nearly 115 students signed up for the day, the 75 that did come resulted in a 65-percent turnout rate.Peña, who served as a team leader for the group that stuffed envelopes at Open Arms Home, a shelter for battered women and children, said she was disappointed with that percentage.

“It shows a real lack of commitment on their part,” she said. “The people who organized (the day) did a great job, and people should have come if they signed up.”

Beth Cooper, a senior marketing major who helped to organize the event, said the low turnout rate didn’t affect the charity work.

“We were expecting some to not show up,” she said. “The charities were all very appreciative of those who did come.”

The business school event was the same day as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a major Fort Worth charity event, which Sarah Parks, a senior business management major, said may have contributed to the no-shows. She said some students didn’t realize the two overlapped.

Still, Parks said she was proud of the efforts the business students put forth.

“Community service is an aspect of business, and people need to look at it as a special responsibility,” she said.

Cooper said she expects the day to become a tradition at the business school and with improved promotion, she said the turnout will improve.

“We don’t want to make students feel like they have to go,” she said. “We want students to feel (as if) they have the opportunity to do community service.”

About 10 faculty members joined the students at Open Arms Home, the Salvation Army, the Tarrant Area Food Bank, Union Gospel Mission of Fort Worth, the Mabee Rehabilitation Center and the Northside Inter-Church Agency.

Melissa Christensen
m.s.christense@student.tcu.edu