A few months back, the United Way asked me to lead a task force that would assess a new way to encourage community giving. Across the country, cities and regions were establishing a special "day of giving" on which all community members would be encouraged to donate to a charity or even charities of their choice. After reviewing the potential that such a day could have for the many non-profit service groups and organizations in Rochester, our task force recommended the plan to the United Way. And, now, we are just about a week away from Rochester's first-ever community day of giving: ROC the Day. On Thursday, December 8, for 24 hours from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., all in the greater Rochester area is encourage to ROC the Day for the non-profits of their choice.
While all giving is good, next Thursday, I invite you to ROC the Day for MCC. In MCC-style, we have taken ROC the Day and turned it into a two-campus celebration supporting scholarships for our students. Before December 8, you can purchase a gorgeous black and gold ROC the Day for MCC long or short sleeve t-shirt at the Brighton or Damon bookstores with all proceeds going to ROC the Day for MCC ... and you will get a free ROC the Day pen with your purchase! We ask that you wear this shirt (or any other MCC black and gold spirit attire) on December 8, which the college is declaring "Black and Gold Day." From 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. that Thursday, we will ROC the Day for MCC with music, a fashion show, cupcakes and coffee.
To ROC the Day for MCC next Thursday, December 8, I encourage you to visit www.ROCtheDay.org, choose the MCC Foundation, and make a tax-deductible gift in support of our students. The philosophy behind ROC the Day is simple: if each of us donates a little, the community will benefit a lot. The same can be said of our students: if all of us invest a little in them today, tomorrow all of us will benefit enormously.
So, next Thursday, I ask you to ROC the Day: choose, give, and matter to our community--in and out of MCC.
For more information on ROC the Day for MCC, please contact the MCC Foundation at 262-1500. I thank both the MCC Bookstore and Sodexo for their sponsorship of our campus ROC the Day events.
And as we approach December 8 and ROC the Day, please feel free to share your thoughts in my blog.
Anne M. Kress
Office of the President
12/01/2011 |