Student Government Association to present Lighting the Way Nov.30
Tue, 11/14/2017 - 05:43pm | By: David Tisdale
In keeping with the spirit of the season of giving, The University of Southern Mississippi Student Government Association (SGA) has designated the Hattiesburg Salvation Army's Boys & Girls Club as the beneficiary of its annual Lighting the Way for the Holidays charity fundraiser. The event is set for 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 at the south lawn of the Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building on the Hattiesburg campus.
Lighting the Way is free and open to members of the university community, as well as Hattiesburg-area residents, and will include food and refreshments, entertainment that will include music presented by choirs from USM and local high schools, activities for kids, an opportunity to meet Santa Claus, and the lighting of the campus Christmas tree.
The event began as a way to support local charitable organizations through the sale of lanterns displayed at the south lawn of the campus, alongside of the Christmas tree. The lanterns are available for purchase at $100 each by contacting the SGA at 601.266.4407 or the USM Dean of Students Office at 601.266.6028.
The Boys and Girls Club's stated mission, in part, is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.
Hannah Robert, a junior elementary education/special education major from Slidell, La. who serves as student co-director of Lighting the Way, said the decision to choose the Boys & Girls Club was based on its ongoing efforts to rebuild its facility after it was damaged by a tornado that struck the Pine Belt in January.
“I personally love Christmas, and as an education major and someone who loves working with kids, it made sense to help the Boys & Girls Club while also spreading the Christmas spirit around,” Robert said.
For more information about Lighting the Way for the Holidays at Southern Miss, email Robert at Hannah.RobertFREEMississippi or the USM Dean of Students Office at dosFREEMississippi. Learn more about the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Hattiesburg at http://salvationarmyalm.org/hattiesburg/boys-girls-club/. For information about the USM Student Government Association, visit http://www.southernmisssga.org/.