MBA Challenge Donates $7K to Nanaimo Child Development Centre

MBA students and MBA Challenge team captains Ivan Gao, Naomi Caputo, and Ashafu Lawal present a cheque for $7,073 to Michelle Kocourek (second from left) of the Nanaimo Child Development Centre.

October 7, 2014 - 12:00pm

A friendly and highly competitive challenge between three student teams in Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Master of Business Administration program resulted in bragging rights for one and a cheque for $7,073 delivered to the Nanaimo Child Development Centre (NCDC).

“This is a challenge we’ve been running for five years now, and it continues to grow in the community,” said Dave Woodward, MBA Internship Coordinator, who welcomed students, faculty and staff at a celebration event Oct. 3, along with guests that included a NCDC representative and project sponsors and mentors from RBC.

“This is a win-win-win situation, for our MBA students, the university and community partners,” Woodward said. “We challenge our students to go out in the community under the umbrella of our corporate sponsors and raise as much money as they can on one day for a charity or organization that is a worthy cause.”

Michelle Kocourek, representing NCDC, said she was impressed with the quality of events organized to raise funds, which included a Carnivale family-focused event at Brooks Landing (the winner), a Westwood Lake Run/Walk event, and a Beer and Burger Night in cooperation with the Lions Club.

“It was awesome to work with you on your different projects,” Kocourek said. “We have 264 children on the wait list, waiting up to 10 months, a number which fluctuates, but it was not too long ago we had 450 children on a two-year wait list. So it’s improved dramatically and I completely attribute that to the fundraising that has gone on through the years.”

The Mann Cup – named for Mike Mann, retired Dean of the Faculty of Management – was presented to the winning team, the “Dare Devils” by the current Dean, Dave Twynam. A special plaque was awarded to RBC representatives Ann Kuzminksi, Robert Lee and Keith Schindler, who sponsored the team’s activities and provided support as business mentors.

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