As Philanthropy Director, I hold one
of the newest positions on the Student
Government Association (SGA). SGA is
one of the most influential organizations
on campus, with a group of 13 students
working together as student advocates.
Beyond representing the student body to
the administration, SGA members plan
campus events and reach out to students,
seeking their ideas and feedback.
My role is to oversee each student
organization’s fundraising efforts as well
as launch a campuswide fundraising
project that engages the student body
throughout the school year. These projects
have traditionally supported stateside and
international ministries that are connected
to Cedarville through faculty, staff, or
alumni. The project changes each year
and focuses on meeting different needs in
different parts of the world.
Last fall’s chapel offering came at
the end of “Tied to Thailand,” a week of
awareness for GROW’s work in Thailand.
This organization, founded in 2009,
provides a safe home for 11 children who
are at risk for being sold into human
trafficking, and it hopes to do more with
by Hilary Murphy ’14
additional resources. GROW recently
purchased land in Chiang Mai, Thailand,
and our student body is working to raise
$60,000 this year so they can build a
second home.
Previous SGA philanthropy projects
have aimed to raise $25,000–$30,000. We
made the bold decision to aim higher so
we could fund the entire project, rather
than just contribute toward it, and make
a tangible difference in children’s lives.
Beyond themoney, we hope this project will
engage Cedarville students in disrupting
human trafficking, both in Thailand and
here at home.
Still, $60,000 is an intimidating goal.
While it canbemetwith just $20per student,
we have planned a variety of fundraising
events and worked to communicate the
importance of this project to the student
body. Through our “Tied to Thailand”
events, GROWT-shirt sales, and the simple
generosity of our student body, we have
already made it halfway to our goal. Many
other campus organizations have caught
the vision and offered to work with us to
help make this goal a reality. While we
still have another $30,000 to raise, I am
After months of planning, a week
full of events, and endless prayer,
it was incredible to see God move
in the student body. As the band
played, the chapel became a
wave as students brought their
gifts to the stage for this year’s
philanthropy project, Grace Refuge
Outreach Worldwide (GROW).
GROW’s founder, an inspirational
Thai woman named Faa Sumitra,
sat next to me, and tears fell as
we witnessed Cedarville students’
generosity as they donated more
than $15,000 in one offering.
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Cedarville Magazine
