SRU's University Program Board hosts Dec. 7 'Seasons of Giving'

Donations of toys, clothing and even bicycles were collected during the 2016 "Season of Giving" sponsored by the University Program Board. This year's event happens Dec. 7 in the Smith Student Center Ballroom.

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - While it's beginning to look a lot like finals week at Slippery Rock University, for Mallory Milberger, making special holiday memories and supporting worthy causes are just as important as acing her exams.

As president of the University Program Board, Milberger, a senior communication: public relations major from Tarentum, will be serving as the lead for this year's annual "Seasons of Giving" event. The UPB is a student-run organization that schedules concerts and other entertainment offerings on campus.

This year's SoG event, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 7 in the Smith Student Center Ballroom, will support the U.S. Marines annual Toys for Tots campaign as well at the Watson Institute, a special education school in Allegheny County.

University students and other members of the SRU community are encouraged to donate toys, books and other age-appropriate gifts for less fortunate children that will be distributed by Toys for Tots immediately following the SoG event. Donated toys, for boys and girls to age 12, should be new and unwrapped.

Autism Speaks U at SRU, a campus organization devoted to autism advocacy, will also be accepting sensory toys including fidget spinners, stuffed animals, snow globes, Play-Doh, kinetic sand and texture books for the benefit of the Watson Institute.

"This is really just a great way to ring in the holiday season and to just give back to our community," Milberger said.

Other student clubs and organizations such as the Black Action Society will be providing students with the opportunity to write letters to Santa during the event. Letters will then be delivered to Macy's Department Store, which has pledged to match each written letter with a $1 donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Other activities at the SoG will include: holiday-themed novelties; a synthetic ice-skating rink; ornament painting; a holiday village; Project Christmas Elf drop off; and cookie decorating. All activities, which will be free of charge, will be staged in the Student Center Ballroom.

"I think what I'm most looking forward to is creating memories with our students," said Milberger. "Maybe we won't remember everything we learned in our classes, but we'll remember celebrating the season together and finding ways to help our community."

MEDIA CONTACT: Maizee Zaccone | 724.738.2091 | mxz1016@sru.edu