For the home football opener, more than 40 volunteers celebrated Paint it Gold Friday and helped United Way of St. Joseph at the same time. The volunteers went to seven locations around St. Joseph to help raise funds for the United Way and to make people aware of the Paint it Gold campaign. Volunteers also handed out commemorative Paint It Gold Friday newspaper, compliments of the St. Joseph News-Press. More than $2,300 was raised for the United Way.
Participating businesses included Hy-Vee, Pappy’s Grill & Pub, Boudreaux’s Louisiana Seafood & Steaks, 36th Street Food & Drink Company and Uncle’s Sports Bar & Grill. Special thanks goes to St. Joseph Police Chief Chris Connelly for allowing volunteers at city intersections and St. Joseph Mayor Bill Falkner for his official proclamation of Paint It Gold Friday.
Then in October, Athletics held its fifth annual Pink Week to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink Week was obvious at the home volleyball and soccer games that week, and members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity sold t-shirts and pink ribbons at the games with all proceeds going to benefit the Breast Center at Heartland Health. This year’s goal of raising $1,500 was met on the final day of the week, bringing the five-year total to more than $5,500 raised.
Paint it Gold Fridays are part of a community support campaign, a joint effort of Athletics and the Office of Public Relations and Marketing. St. Joseph businesses are offered at no charge a 3 foot x 5 foott Missouri Western flag, including a pole and bracket; and a window cling. Employees of area businesses are also encouraged to wear black and gold every Friday.
Businesses that are interested in participating in the Paint it Gold campaign may call the Office of Public Relations and Marketing at (816) 271-5676.