How a class assignment became so much more

Throughout the first semester of Public Relations at Mohawk, we are assigned to a not-for-profit client who we will provide a communications audit and fun a fundraiser for.  My group was partnered with the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario or POGO for short.

All along the way, we had amazing support from the client and they helped us turn our fundraiser into something much more than an assignment. We put together a Pajama Day to help raise awareness for childhood cancer. For two weeks we ran an online campaign full of social media posts as a build up to our big day. Through a group member's personal connection we were able to reach a wide variety of influencers in the Hamilton area.

With the help of our influencers, Lou Molinaro, David Premi, Kristin Archer, Terra Lightfoot, and Tim Potocic we made stops at local businesses collecting money for POGO. We even made a stop at the Mayor’s office for a quick picture and to meet his dog.

Traveling with us was a representative from POGO who helped us educate the public on POGO’s services and how they help children with cancer through all stages of the process. With the help of the community, we were able to raise a total of $4,356.50.

What started as a school project quickly became a real eye opener. Not only were we able to help this organization but they helped us learn a lot about childhood cancer and it’s side effects. Many kids with cancer can experience side effects for years or even the rest of their lives. This project brought a bunch of people together for a great day and an even better cause. It even gave us a chance to explore the city and see how some of our local businesses operate.