RRU Venture Challenge asks students to take a buck and make a difference
For immediate release
Victoria, B.C. - Bachelor of Commerce students at Royal Roads University are trying to turn a dollar into big profits for local charities. Until February 12, 14 teams of five students each will take an individual investment of one dollar and try to earn a total of $50,000 in five weeks.
Last year, students generated $36,000 in profits with their ventures. The beneficiaries slated to receive this year's venture profits range from The Our Place Society to the Canadian Red Cross's efforts in Haiti, to the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride (see full list below).
The Royal Roads chapter of Students in Free Enterprise, an international organization that brings together business students and academics to encourage business students to create a better place, is sponsoring this year's Venture Challenge on behalf of the Bachelor of Commerce program.
"It is especially important today that students studying business have a strong sense of corporate social responsibility," says Pedro Marquez, Dean of the Faculty of Management at Royal Roads University. "The Venture Challenge reinforces this as a key part of our educational model."
Among the ideas under development this year is a plan to hold a cooking competition to showcase nutrition on a limited budget. It will feature local chefs creating nutritious food from ingredients found in a typical food bank hamper. Another team will solicit donations for specially-created backpacks geared to the homeless. Still another group will make and sell gourmet pet treats called "Pupcakes" to support the BC SPCA (see full venture list below).
The contest will culminate with a gala awards ceremony on Friday, Feb. 19 at Royal Roads University starting at 5:30 on the Quarterdeck of the Grant Building.
Charities being targeted and the business ideas being generated for this year's Venture Challenge:
|
Team Name |
Charity |
Description of Venture Idea |
|
Omega One Consulting |
BCSPCA |
Pup-cakes - Homemade pet food products |
|
Benchmark Consulting |
Canuck Place Children's Hospice |
T-shirts designed by local artists and a raffle for canucks home game tickets |
|
Amico Mio |
The Canadian Red Cross for Haiti |
Marketing & Promotions Company that provides unique and compelling advertising promotion opportunity & hosting a special screening of the newly released Ocean Men: Extreme Dive on February 10, 2010 at the Victoria IMAX |
|
Can Do |
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation |
Selling Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Valentine's Day Chocolates with the Breast Cancer Ribbon |
|
Miller Gold Agency |
Disabled Skiers Association of BC and Sears National Kids Cancer Ride |
Hosting ski/snowboard excursions to Mt. Washington |
|
The Brotherhood of 6 |
Salvation Army |
Selling Back-packs full of essential food, clothing and hygiene products (all proceeds to charity as well as donation of the actual back-packs back to those that are in need. |
|
Sovran Seven |
BC Alzheimer's Society |
Host the Venture Challenge Tradeshow at Mayfair Shopping Center on Feb.05, 2010 |
|
Arturus |
Victoria Foundation - Victoria Youth Orchestra |
Partnering with Serious Coffee and the Victoria Film Festival to sell buttons to generate awareness of the arts & culture community in Victoria |
|
Molten Books |
The Canadian Red Cross for Haiti |
Collect and sell used books and DVDs |
|
Serious Consulting |
Sears National Kids Cancer Ride & Mary's Therapeutic Farm Society |
Sell a passport type coupon book including local businesses, and a draw for $2500 in giveaways |
|
Entrée-preneur Epicure |
Mustard Seed Food Bank |
Cooking Competition that showcases nutritious food that can be made on a limited budget |
|
3L Initiative |
BC Lion Society for Children with Disabilities |
The 3L Initiative - Live, Laugh, Learn' - Sell Valentine's Day Cards produced by disabled children. |
|
Blue Panther Co. |
Our Place Society |
Selling T-shirts with names that include the word 'our' to help those in need |
|
The Business Models |
BC Cancer Society Inspire the World campaign |
Promoting and selling 'reading break' vacation packages to Cuba for UVIC and UBC students |
