WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | "All Auburn All Orange" Proceeds Going To Scholarships, Community Service

"All Auburn All Orange" Proceeds Going To Scholarships, Community Service

One Auburn University group is showing off its colors and raising money for community projects. The AU Student Government Association is using this year's "All Auburn All Orange" as a fundraising event for scholarships and helping people in east Alabama.

Governor Bob Riley asked all Alabamians to wear their college colors Friday, but Auburn University is taking it a step further with its "All Auburn All Orange" program. For the last three years, 14 percent of the proceeds from t-shirt sales has gone to local charities. The shirts will be sold for a different cause this time.

"This year we decided to do something new and have the S.G.A. sponsor directly toward 'The Big Event' and student scholarships. That way the students could see their money benefiting the student body as a whole," said Caroline Rice, AU Athletics student chairperson.

Eight percent of t-shirt sales will go toward scholarships, while six percent will go to "The Big Event." It's a national community service project started in 1982 by Texas A&M.

"We just give back to the Auburn-Opelika area. We go out and do service projects, and one thing that separates 'The Big Event' from a lot of other philanthropies on campus is it's just not for people in need. It's for everybody," said Michelle Bushnell, assistant director for AU's "The Big Event."

Last year, students had 80 projects at 45 different work sites.

"Painting, to building something, or just putting pine straw out. Small things, big things, you name it, we do it," Bushnell said.

With more than 800 student volunteers in 2006, they're looking for more projects this year.

"It just shows how loving Auburn's campus is and how all the students want to get involved and give back to Auburn," said Bushnell.

The shirts are available at many retailers around the Auburn campus, and they sell for $15 to $20. If there's a special project you'd like student volunteers to help you with during "The Big Event" in February, you can contact the S.G.A.