The Northern Michigan University Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter recently hosted the 8th annual Marquette Coffee Crawl, which drew nearly 500 participants and raised $10,200 for the Marquette Women's Center.
“They were blown away by the amount,” said PRSSA President Brooke Kluz. “We had told them about our goal of $10,000 because last year we had raised just over $8,000, which was the highest we had reached at that point. So we set a higher goal, exceeded it and they were happy for us and ecstatic about what it would mean for them.”
Kluz said advance promotion emphasized that the event is deliberately held in April each year to coincide with Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Women's Center provides trauma-informed, survivor-centered programs and services for individuals impacted by domestic and sexual violence, including human trafficking.
“Twelve local coffee shops participated,” Kluz said. “Some have been involved every year and a couple joined for the first time. Tickets are purchased ahead of time, with a few available the day of the event. People register outside of Dead River Coffee. We give them a postcard-sized passport to get punched at the participating coffee shops while they sample their products. We also have raffle baskets, free t-shirts for the first 100 who buy tickets, and merch available for sale.”
Kluz said PRSSA members invest a great deal of time and effort in planning the event. The organization breaks down into four committees.
“Those cover aspects like social media, traditional media logistics and outreach, finances, coordinating with the coffee shops, ordering shirts and tablecloths and coordinating volunteers,” she added. “We had over 70 volunteers at Coffee Crawl this year.”
Kluz said PRSSA's fundraising achievement under her leadership was a rewarding end to her NMU student experience. She graduates May 2.
