SFU wins gold in bed-net drive
Fiona Burrows, PAMR, 778.782.3928; fiona@sfu.ca
Simon Fraser University raised more funds for mosquito bed-nets than any other Canadian university participating in the annual Spread the Net student challenge.
CBC’s Rick Mercer, star of The Rick Mercer Report, made the announcement on his show Mar. 9 after a visit to SFU to share the results of the challenge, held in partnership with UNICEF Canada.
Surrounded by hundreds of enthusiastic students, staff and faculty in Convocation Mall, Mercer commended SFU for being the top fundraiser in the West and nationally. SFU raised over $16,000 during the six-month campaign.
Mercer, visiting the Burnaby campus on the tailwind of the Olympic spirit, proclaimed, “SFU, you have won gold.”
Mercer launched the third annual Spread the Net student challenge in September (2009) from SFU’s Burnaby campus and issued a challenge pitting West vs. East.
Funds raised provide insecticide-treated bed nets to children in Liberia and Rwanda.
Incentives for the top two fundraising schools (West and East) included a personal visit from Mercer and a feature spot on his show. The SFU segment will be seen on Tuesday, Mar. 16 on CBC-TV at 8 p.m. PST.
Photos are available of the announcement event at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sfupamr/
Cyril Thong
Great job by the Carl Lowenberger lab in getting SFU motivated. However, I don't appreciate the publicity accorded Gordon Campbell on this occasion. What did he have to do with the campaign!