Andrew McDonough was a young boy who died at the age of 14 after battling leukemia and sepsis. His blood type, B+ became the name of the foundation created in his honor — Be Positive — which raises money to provide emotional and financial support for families of children with cancer.
This year the second annual Be Positive Quad Party For a Cause will be held on May 4 from 12 to 4 p.m. on the Old Main Quad on the SUNY New Paltz campus.
The biggest fundraising event of the year, held by the United Greek Association (UGA), the event is open to all students and the public. While donations will be accepted at the event, no one has to pay to play or participate.
“This year, the United Greek Association really wanted to reach out to the SUNY New Paltz community and create an even better event than last year,” Graduate Assistant of Off-Campus & Commuter Services Kristen Wohlgemuth said.
Wohlgemuth advised UGA and aided them to create and put together this event.
“The addition of the involvement of a few clubs and organizations has helped to build relationships among student groups and spread awareness of the event beyond the sorority and fraternity life community,” Wohlgemuth said. “Finals can be stressful, but Sunday will be a really great time”
Activities available will include bouncy houses, a live DJ, raffle prizes, Zumba, refreshments and games. Epic-Glee and Absolut A-capella will also perform. Prizes will come in the form of gift certificates from local eateries and establishments and gift baskets put together by campus departments.
This program is an effort to bring together Greek Life, other clubs and organizations to provide a day of entertainment for students before finals and in the process, raise awareness and fundraise for childhood cancer and Be Positive.
Each organization will pay $10 to participate and a friendly competition between groups will take place — whichever team gets the most people to participate in their game will receive half the money they raise to benefit their club or organization, and the other half will go to Be Positive.
Last year more than $6,000 was raised for the cause and Katisha Patrice, social chair of UGA and a third-year psychology major, said this year the goal is to beat that number and raise $10,000.
“It’s a good cause, and it’s going to be a lot of fun. I mean children with cancer — who doesn’t want to help them?” Patrice said.