College of Education to participate in Relay for Life
Each spring, local Relay for Life events take place all over the nation to help the American Cancer Society raise funds in the fight against cancer. This year, the College of Education (COE) has joined one of its staff members to form Team Lori and COE for the Relay for Life of Bulloch County and Georgia Southern event.
Lori Wiggins, administrative assistant for the Department of Teaching and Learning, is passionate about the Relay activities as a cancer survivor and someone who has lost two people very close to her in their battles against cancer.
Due to her health, Wiggins was not always able to participate in other team events. So in 2010, she formed Team Lori, “a team of one,” so that she could still help raise funds for the cause. Wiggins said that when she joined the College of Education staff in 2013, the support of her efforts from her colleagues, the College, and Georgia Southern University was overwhelming.
“The College of Education is my family,” said Wiggins, “I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to work with.”
Wiggins is known for her dedicated fundraising activities for the local Relay event. In 2016, she was named the top individual fundraiser raising over $12,000.
“Everyone thought I had a big team of people helping,” explained Wiggins, “but when they realized it was just me, I started to get colleagues asking if they could join the team with me.”
This year, with the support of COE Dean Thomas Koballa, Ph.D., Wiggins formed “Team Lori and COE” and opened her team to members of the College.
“I have high hopes for this year,” said Wiggins. “I feel honored to have a team with my College standing beside me.”
Fundraising Activities
Planning and activities for Team Lori and COE are already underway. The team has several on-campus fundraisers planned including a chili sale, hot dog lunch, and silent auction.
The chili sale will take place in the College of Education building on February 14 from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Homemade chili will be available for purchase along with a Valentine’s Day cupcakes. On April 11, Team Lori and COE will offer a hot dog lunch event. For one fee, patrons will receive a grilled hot dog, chips, dessert, and drink.
The silent auction fundraiser is planned for the week of March 27 – 30. The University community may recognize this as an annual fundraiser that Wiggins has held for the past three years. Items for last year’s auction included various gift cards to local restaurants and businesses, homemade cakes and desserts, gift baskets, and signed artwork.
Additional fundraisers will include a fundraising night at Wild Wing Cafe on February 7 (5 p.m. to close), t-shirt sales, and a pie-in-the-face fundraiser featuring COE’s major gift officer John Ramfjord.
For more information about each fundraising event, visit the College of Education’s event calendar. All proceeds from the events will benefit Relay for Life.
Posted in COE Events