Berrien Springs, MI – The Andrews University Enactus team has been awarded a total of $4,500 in grants from Unilever, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and The AUSA Spirit Grant.
Each year, over 500 Enactus teams around the nation compete for grants that will fund their community outreach projects. This year, the Enactus team at AU was awarded two grants, funded by Fortune 500 corporations. They have demonstrated, over the past year, a track record of responsibility and carrying out quality programs in the community, receiving recognition and awards for their work. The funding this year will facilitate a variety of initiatives.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is awarding a $1,500 grant which will be used to fund the team’s continuing project, CREATION Health which serves the community’s health needs, located in Berrien Springs. This year Enactus AU continues working with Ruth Murdoch Elementary School by offering a free health program for students in grade 1 & 7-8. While teachers educate students on regular curriculum, the children also become more aware with the CREATION Health seminars put on by the Enactus team and volunteers,” said Sarah Henry Saturne, the Project leader this Enactus outreach program.
Unilever Bright Future awarded Enactus AU $1,500 to work with the Andrews Agriculture Department to promote the AUGardens Mobile Farm Market . The grant will be used to empower the Benton Harbor community to develop long term solutions to hunger, poverty, and food insecurity by educating them and aiding in the stopping of the current food deserts.
Project Regenesis received the AU Spirit Grant for $1,500, helping to fund a cancer-prevention program in Nicaragua. During the 2017 spring break, eight students will travel to Nicaragua to begin working with a local clinic in educating women on cancer prevention and screening.
William Down, junior marketing major and current Enactus AU president, stated his excitement in receiving these grants: “This is my second year working with Enactus and I have seen lives transformed. As we help conquer food deserts and work side by side with our different school departments, our lives as students are greatly influenced and changed. We are excited about the possibilities this year.”
Enactus AU currently has 25 students engaging in leadership, volunteering, and actively helping our community to grow. This group impacts the community with several projects donating over 4000 hours of volunteer time each year.