Co-founding a non-profit organization and helping to create its fundraising 5k-road race to aid the Ugandan children in makes Ben Brennan this week’s Campus Celebrity!
Brennan is a fourth-year double major in business finance and financial economics as well as a member of the UMaine Rugby Team and five different intramural sports teams. In addition to this he, along with two other friends, Dee Wilbur and Chris Pederson, created the non-profit organization SONG which is holding a fundraising 5k-road race May 1st on the UMaine campus.
Brennan, who transferred to UMaine the second semester of his freshman year, has always been active in athletics, which is evident by his extensive involvement in intramurals. Brennan has also participated on the Intramural Sports Council and hopes to work with the Peace Action Committee in the future. Although most people would say they enjoy helping others, Brennan has shown that it is more than just an extracurricular activity for him.
SONG, which stands for Sponsorship Of New Grace, was created after the three students were talking about things they’ve done and Wilbur mentioned a trip she took to Uganda. As the conversation progressed, the three realized with their background in community service and their mutual drive to help others that they could really make a difference. SONG became a certified non-profit organization in November of 2010 with a goal of raising money for a trip that will bring school, building, and medical supplies to the New Grace Orphanage and Primary School in Iganga, Uganda.
When talking about how the fundraising 5k was created he said,
“Back in high school I organized the 5K for Kakamega, Kenya, where we were supporting an orphanage in Kenya, and I have done road races since I was in 7th grade so I’m familiar with the environment.”
The money raised at the race will go towards funding Brennan and Wilbur’s trip to Uganda in August of 20011, which will cost between $5000-$6000.
The SONG 5K road race/fun walk mixes two of Brennan’s passions, community service and athletics. The Race will start at 2pm on May 1st, 2011 at the UMaine Rec Center and has a registration fee of $10 for students and $15 for non-student adults. Prizes for the top male and female finishers in the eight age divisions will be awarded after the race.
You can sign up for the race and check out more info on SONG by going to www.song5k.com. Those with questions about the race, SONG, how to donate/volunteer, can also send the three founders an email at sponsorshipofnewgrace@gmail.com