From the Duke News Service

April 9, 2001

Duke University's Fuqua School of Business MBA Games organization has raised more than $185,000 for the Special Olympics of North Carolina, boosting the cumulative total to $1 million over the 12-year history of the games.

The MBA Games was established at Fuqua in 1989 to promote philanthropic and community involvement within the MBA student body. Through its activities, the MBA Games organizes numerous events during the school year to bring students and Special Olympics athletes together and raise funds for the Special Olympics. Fundraising activities include sports competitions, social events and an annual auction, as well as solicitation of donations from corporate sponsors.

This year's games will be held from April 19-21 at Duke.

Fundraising for the MBA Games has come primarily from corporate sponsorship of activities and proceeds from an annual auction of community- and student-donated items. This year's auction raised more than $30,000 and included signed paraphernalia from the Duke men's basketball team, a week at Fuqua Dean Rex Adams' Cape Cod beach house and dinners hosted by both faculty and students.

"The Fuqua MBA Games provides important funding necessary to continue growing and strengthening our sports training and competition initiatives," said Keith Fishburne, president of the Special Olympics of North Carolina (SONC). "The students should be very proud of what they have achieved for athletes with mental retardation through this 12-year tradition. We are proud to continue to be associated with the Fuqua School of Business and the MBA Games."

During its 12-year history, the MBA Games student group has helped numerous athletes and secured corporate fundraising donations from leading international companies. Companies such as Ford Motor Co., Miller Brewing Co., Pepsico and Johnson & Johnson have been long-time supporters and contributors to the MBA Games cause.

"On behalf of the Ford Motor Co., I would like to congratulate the Fuqua School of Business and its students, both past and present, on the achievement of raising $1 million for Special Olympics North Carolina through the MBA Games," said Todd Eckert, relationship marketing manager, Ford Division. "We are excited and feel very privileged to be celebrating our sixth year as the lead sponsor of the MBA Games."

The flagship fundraising event for the MBA Games, and culmination of this year-long fundraising drive, is the annual charitable event hosted by Fuqua students. The games consist of a two-day competition among MBA students from top business schools that features both serious and light-hearted sporting events from the basketball shoot-out to the briefcase toss. Special Olympics athletes are integrated directly into all activities and benefit directly from the money raised for the event.

"This is a remarkable tribute to the constancy of purpose of a generation of Fuqua students in serving their community and extending a helping hand to the region's Special Olympic athletics, said Adams. "For all of us, the MBA Games serve as the focal point of the year, bringing together business school competitors from all over the country to help us help our neighbors."

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