WESTFIELD – Westfield State University students will have the opportunity to pie their peers as well as university faculty and staff on Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. on the campus green. The event is part of a fundraiser for Camp Sunshine.
Based out of Casco, ME, Camp Sunshine provides respite, support, joy, and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their immediate families from around the world through the various stages of their journeys. The year-round program is free of charge to all families, and includes 24-hour onsite medical and psychosocial support.
Students pay $3 for a pie, which is actually a pie plate filled with whipped cream, and have the option of either throwing it at their target from a distance or walking right up to the victim and launching the pie right in his or her face. Volunteers have the option of wearing ponchos or hair nets as extra protection.
Pie for Camp Sunshine was organized by the Circle K Club (a division of the Kiwanis Club of Westfield) led by student Morgan Leake ’16 of Dudley, Mass. Leake said the club wanted to switch out their annual “Jail and Bail” fundraiser and felt it was an event that students would appreciate.
“How often can someone say they got to pie their professor? Also all the money is being donated to a wonderful cause and it’s a fresh new event for people to enjoy,” Leake said.
The Circle K Club has held an annual fundraiser for Camp Sunshine for the past five years and has raised more than $1,500 for the organization.
Leake said depending on how successful the event is, Circle K may hold it again next year.
“I’m really hoping that we can make this event our annual end of the year event that everyone on campus looks forward to participating in,” Leake said.
Led by Ken Magarian, director of Advancement and University Relations, the Circle K Club is a community service club. Students organize a number of fundraisers and community events including the annual Breakfast with Santa, the Words with Friends city-wide spelling bee, and Helping Out Our Town (HOOT) Day in which students volunteer for various businesses in Downtown Westfield.
The event is open to the public. For more information, email [email protected] or Morgan Leake at [email protected].
