Blog Post: Decision Week
Author: Allison Gier
Pre-Physician Assistant, Baylor University Class of 2018
Decision week is upon us! After spending several weeks doing research, hosting pitch day, and conducting site visits, it is time for each team to make final decisions regarding how to allocate funds. I had no idea how difficult this portion of the class would be. I am part of the health group. Our group was extremely impressed by every site visit. As a result, we have decided to move forward funding all three of the organizations which we visited in person. Nailing down the numbers proved to be very challenging.
This past week, our overall budget as a class finally became more clear. Our class has four philanthropic groups: poverty, health, education, and miscellaneous. Each of the four groups has been allotted $10,000. In addition to the $40,000 (10,000 x4) our class has secured $16,000 to fund additional projects. Within our classroom meeting time, each group presented the organizations that they decided to move forward funding along with the breakdown of their $10,000. It was very inspiring to see each organization come to life in our classroom as we discussed how our funds would benefit their ongoing projects and operations.
The most difficult part of this class really surfaced this week. Our class collectively identified so much need within the Waco community. The needs of our local community far surpass our limited funds in this class. I walked into our class meeting with a clear heady, ready to compete for extra funds for the health group. However, as each group presented organizations and advocated for why their organizations deserved extra money, I felt increasingly confused. Who is to say that poverty is more important than health? Or that education is more important than miscellaneous? Or vice versa? At the end of the day, all four categories are equally worthy and deserving of funding.
Prior to class meeting, I expected the different groups to get aggressive and possibly hostile when fighting for extra funds from our $16,000 of additional budget. However, that was not the case. All four groups devoted their attention to every organization presented. We launched into a detailed discussion and brainstormed ways that we could shift around funds in order to accommodate each organization. Our class came up with several creative solutions and ultimately decided to contact Aramark before finalizing our funds.
Regardless of the final numbers, our class as a whole will move forward to fund a total of 10 organizations in the Waco community. It is an incredible feeling to know that our class will make a significant impact in the community that we call home. Prior to starting this class, I was hoping to fund a single non-profit. I had no idea that I would be part of a group funding almost a dozen different organizations. Because I am in the health group, my greatest wish and priority has been to fund a health-related cause. However, as the semester goes on, I have found that I have become equally as passionate about the poverty, education, and miscellaneous organizations. I am very excited to finalize budgets and contact our organizations with good news in the next couple of weeks!