The Sport Venue and Event Management Graduate Program in Falk College is hosting a charity golf tournament to benefit Vera House on May 9 at Timber Banks Golf Club in Baldwinsville, N.Y., beginning at 12:30 p.m. Monies raised will support Vera House’s comprehensive domestic and sexual violence programs. The goal of the event is to raise $10,000—while raising awareness for Vera House.
The Inaugural Sport Venue and Event Management Golf Classic includes 18 holes of golf, lunch and a dinner reception for the $150 entry fee. For those interested in attending the reception only, $45 tickets are available. The reception-only tickets include dinner, a silent auction to benefit Vera House and remarks by author-advocate Katelin Maloney whose novel “Drowning” raises awareness of the consequences of domestic violence. Two survivors impacted by domestic violence and sexual abuse will also share their experiences during the evening event.
“Our class wanted to choose a charity that focuses on important and pressing issues within society and the Syracuse community today. Fundraising for Vera House has also provided us the opportunity to stand up to domestic and sexual violence on college campuses,” says student Carolyn McCaslin.
The execution of the tournament is part of the sport venue and event management curriculum that requires students to organize an event to gain a direct, hands-on learning experience working in all facets of the sports industry. To date, their efforts have included selecting the community partner, course operations, marketing, hospitality, fundraising and sponsorships.
While students planning the tournament are currently enrolled in SPM 665, “Advanced Event Management,” taught by Associate Professor Gina Pauline, who also serves as undergraduate program director in sport management, the vision for the tournament started in an event management course she taught last summer. Students’ efforts were then tied into a Fall 2015 sport marketing course taught by assistant professor of sport management Patrick Walsh where students focused on marketing, sponsorship, public relations and operations. Their activities included market research and resulted in the marketing plan being used for the golf tournament.
This event deliberately connects event management courses, including experiential learning opportunities, with social responsibility, which is a hallmark of all academic programs across Falk College. During March, the students and many others at Syracuse University joined thousands throughout Central New York wearing a white ribbon or white wristband to raise awareness about domestic and sexual violence in support of the annual White Ribbon Campaign, which is led by men and encourages all members of the community to join them in their efforts. Students participated in the annual White Ribbon Breakfast, and met with Vera House staff throughout the semester.
“The students have gained so much experience in all facets of event planning while understanding the need for themselves and their peers to go outside of the confines of a classroom and serve as an advocate to end domestic and sexual violence,” says Pauline. “While they came into this course focused on planning an event, it has turned into so much more as they now understand social responsibility. Vera House has been a tremendous organization to partner with this semester. The impact this project has left on each and every one of them professionally and personally is tremendous.”
For more information about the event, including sponsorship and donation of auction items, contact Carolyn McCaslin at 402-670-9322 or via email at cgmccasl@syr.edu. Details are also available at https://svemcharitygolfclassic.wordpress.com/
