The Campus Kitchen at SIUE Participates in “Raise the Dough” Challenge
Beginning Friday, Feb. 17 student volunteers from the Campus Kitchen at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (CKSIUE) will kick off a week-long “Raise the Dough” online fundraising challenge to benefit hunger relief efforts in the greater St. Louis Metro area.
The challenge is hosted by The Campus Kitchens Project, the nation’s leading nonprofit empowering students to fight hunger and food waste in their communities. The Craig Newmark Philanthropic Fund, created by craigslist founder Craig Newmark in 2016 to support and connect nonprofit communities and drive powerful civic engagement, also supports the challenge.
From Friday, Feb. 17-Friday, Feb. 24, volunteers with the CKSIUE will compete against 25 high schools and universities to see who will raise the most money to support their local hunger-fighting efforts. Cash prizes totaling $2,500 will be awarded to Campus Kitchens that raise the most money or involve the largest number of individual donors through their online campaign. The Newmark Fund will match every grassroots level donation of $100 or less, up to $7,500, emphasizing that it’s not just how much students raise, but the number of individual students inspired to join the movement that truly matters.
Students and community members can support CKSIUE by donating to the fundraising page online beginning midnight on Friday, Feb. 17. As an organization with predominately college-age volunteers, the amount of the donation is less important than the number of individuals participating. With a match from the Newmark Fund, a nominal contribution of just $10 supports the efforts of CKSIUE. The Campus Kitchens Project will announce prizewinners on Monday, Feb. 27.
“The SIUE and surrounding community has always provided generous support for CKSIUE,” said Sarah Laux, assistant director of community engagement in SIUE’s Kimmel Student Involvement Center. “The funds raised will be crucial in continuing the student-led effort at SIUE to eliminate hunger and food waste in the Metro East.”
“Getting people engaged in helping others is a big deal. It’s how we’ll change the world,” said Newmark.
In the last academic year, Campus Kitchens nationally rescued more than 1,306,163 pounds of food and served 349,376 meals. Each Campus Kitchen goes beyond delivering meals to develop and implement innovative programs that address the root causes of hunger.
About The Campus Kitchens Project
Founded in 2001, The Campus Kitchens Project is a national organization that empowers student volunteers to fight hunger and food waste in their community. On 58 university and high school campuses across the country, students transform unused food from dining halls, grocery stores, restaurants, and farmers’ markets into meals that are delivered to local agencies serving those in need. By taking the initiative to run a community kitchen, students develop entrepreneurial and leadership skills, along with a commitment to serve their community, that they will carry with them into future careers. Each Campus Kitchen goes beyond meals by using food as a tool to promote poverty solutions, implement garden initiatives, participate in nutrition education, and convene food policy events.
About the Craig Newmark Philanthropic Fund
The Craig Newmark Philanthropic Fund is a private fund created by craigslist founder Craig Newmark in 2016 to support and connect nonprofit communities and drive powerful civic engagement. The Foundation’s priorities include Trustworthy Journalism, Veterans and Military Families, Voter Protection and Education, Consumer Protection and Education, Public Diplomacy, Government Transparency, Micro-Lending to Alleviate Poverty, and Women in Tech.
