Undergraduate Student Government will host the first Philanthropy Fair at the Ohio Union Jan. 29. Credit: Amal Saeed | Photo Editor
For the first time ever, Ohio State students will have a one-stop shop to browse philanthropy opportunities.
Ohio State’s Undergraduate Student Government will host a Philanthropy Fair Wednesday, where students can explore booths and discover on-campus service opportunities.
Unlike other university fairs such as the Involvement and Career fairs, the Philanthropy Fair focuses specifically on giving back to the university and surrounding communities through volunteerism.
Raychel Edelsberg, a third-year in social work and USG director of communications, said she and others organizing the event wanted to take advantage of residual excitement from the Spring Involvement Fair.
“It’s such a great time, right after the Student Involvement Fair in the spring, to really have a specialized and more niche fair,” Edelsberg said.
Edelsberg said the goal of the fair is to “give students a direct outlet for finding philanthropy.”
“I know that when I came to Ohio State, I knew that organizations like these existed, but I, for some reason, had it in my mind that the only way I could find philanthropy on campus would be to join a sorority,” she said. “I did that, and it was a great decision, but I wanted to help those that would be going to these fairs and are looking for direct, hands-on service opportunities.”
Miriam Aggrey, a general liaison for USG and third-year in criminology and criminal justice, helped plan the event and said she hopes students will take advantage of the chance to learn more about volunteer opportunities around campus, in Columbus and even nationally.
“A lot of people come to school and want to be involved but don’t know where to start,” Aggrey said. “This is a great way for students to come learn about different ways they can be involved without specifically having to be in an organization.”
The fair will showcase about 20 groups, with some campus-specific organizations such as BuckeyeThon and Columbus-community focused groups such as Pay It Forward OSU and College Mentors for Kids, Aggrey and Edelsberg said.
USG members will also be in attendance to help direct students to the fair and answer questions, Edelsberg said. Organizations will be set up in a similar manner as past involvement fairs, and Aggrey said the relaxed nature of the fair will allow students to stop in for as much or as little time as they please.
“You can really just casually drop by, walk around, visit whatever looks appealing to you,” Aggrey said.
The Philanthropy Fair will take place 4-6 p.m. Wednesday in Great Hall Meeting Room 1 in the Ohio Union.
