Eastern Michigan University’s Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, formerly known as American Humanics, will be launching a fundraiser on June 30. Their goal is to raise at least $4,000 over the summer to help fund both their grant and study abroad programs.
EMU professor John Fike will be participating in a two-week 450-mile bicycle ride across Michigan. Fike is a part-time lecturer in EMU’s Political Science Department, as well as the teacher of the foundations and philosophy of the nonprofit sector.
Fike was inspired by the students’ efforts and enthusiasm in fundraising throughout the winter semester for the NLA.
“My wife Bonita and I have included a summer bike ride for several years now as part of our summer vacation,” Fike said. “This year, we decided to dedicate this 450-mile adventure to raise money to help EMU students.”
The NLA prepares students for leadership and managerial roles in the nonprofit sector. Upon completion of the program, students receive Certified Nonprofit Professional certification.
“One of our favorite causes is scholarships for students to study abroad,” he said. “I don’t know how many times I’ve heard students say that if they had the money they’d love to study abroad.
Students who have studied in other countries are very different people when they return, you can see it in the intensity of their focus and the maturity of their work.
Claudia Petrescu, leader of the NLA program at EMU, said, “Having community leaders and professionals like Fike organizing an NLA fundraiser event such as the biking tour is a testimony of the importance of the NLA program to the community, and to the contribution that the students are making to the communities in which they work,”
“This event and ones like it are encouraging and help secure the NLA within our university,” Student Senator Jared Jeffries, who is advocating and helping to raise funds for the NLA said. “The NLA is a vital tool for those seeking real world experiences while at Eastern. Hopefully this event will continue to spread awareness at Eastern, that the NLA is there for you.”
The NLA at EMU also offers other things such as non-credit courses, several different certifications and internship opportunities to undergraduate students minoring in nonprofit administration and graduate students concentrating on the nonprofit sector.
“Our logo is ‘certified and change the world’ and that is what our NLA students and [Certified Nonprofit Professionals] are doing — changing the world one day and one task at a time,” Fike said.
If you’re interested in more information about the NLA or are looking to get involved, visit their campus office at 215 Rackham Hall, send an e-mail at nonprofit@emich.edu or check them out on the web at emich.edu/nonprofit. You can also go to emufoundation.org/index.php/public-give.html?fund=01922 to donate to the NLA, and you can track the ride across Michigan at facebook.com/BikingForEmuStudents.
