For the next three weeks, West Virginia University’s Mountaineer Idol will be giving back to the community.
For the first time this year, Mountaineer Idol and the new student organization Wishmakers on Campus are partnering at Friday’s (Sept. 30) third-elimination round to help raise money to eventually grant a wish for a local child. The event starts at 9 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.
“We are thankful Mountaineer Idol is supporting WVU Wishmakers on Campus,” said Shae Snyder, president of the organization. “It is going to be a great way to put our name out there and a great way for the University to interact with some of the Wish Kids. We are very excited to make it happen.”
Wishmakers on Campus have been selling Make-A-Wish stars at a table in the Mountainlair for the last week and a half, and will continue to do so up until Friday’s competition. Those in attendance at Mountaineer Idol this week can donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation by buying a star for $1.
“We are so very pleased to partner with Wishmakers on Campus and help them spread their important word about their organization. We have so many caring students on our campus, and it is the perfect student program to seek support for the children,” said Sonja Wilson, senior program administrator at the Mountainlair.
The signed and decorated Wish Stars bought by the WVU community will then be placed as decoration around the stage for Friday’s competition. In addition, local Wish Kids are invited to Friday’s show, and one will help co-host the event.
“Having the Wish Kids actually be a part of our program on Friday night will not only be an amazing opportunity for them but for our audience as well,” Wilson said. “I cannot tell you how honored we will be to see them walk across our Idol stage and announce to the audience about their wishes. I am also very excited to have one of the Wish Kids serve as a co-host for our program.”
Mountaineer Idol is in its eighth year and has continued to grow in popularity across campus, Wilson said. On Oct. 14, the competition will continue to give back to the community with its annual Mountaineer Idol Gives Back silent auction. Those proceeds benefit WVU Children’s Hospital and Jessi’s Pals.
The competition lasts until the final round on Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. in the Morgantown Metropolitan Theatre on High Street where the final three contestants will battle for the 2011 title.
Fans can vote for their favorite Mountaineer Idol contestant on its Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/WVUpAllNight to save him or her from being eliminated from the competition. The contestant’s photo with the most “likes” will stay in the competition.
For more information on Wishmakers on Campus: http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2011/09/09/wvu-student-debuts-wishmakers-on-campus-student-organization.
-WVU-
CONTACT: Sonja Wilson, Mountainlair
304-293-2702, Sonja.Wilson@mail.wvu.edu
td/mm/09/28/11
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