This past year has been a busy time for the UD Physical Therapy students. We conducted a number of various fundraising efforts to benefit the Foundation for Physical Therapy via the Marquette Challenge. UDPT students raised more than $15,000 to earn the Award of Excellence, an honor given to the top three PT programs from a nationwide field of 146 PT programs. UD’s PT program also earned two additional honors:
- The Biggest Stretch Award, for the greatest increase in funds raised since last year’s Challenge with an increase of more than $10,000; and
- Membership in the Philanthropy Circle-Cornerstone Society, in recognition of cumulative fundraising efforts of more than $58,000 in the past 14 years of participation in the Challenge.
Fundraisers we continue to work on includes “Rent-a-PT Student” where students perform various yard/house (but really just about anything you need help with) work in return for a donation; fundraiser nights at local restaurants including Panera, Klondike Kate’s, and the UD creamery where a portion of the proceeds benefited the Foundation; pizza/donut sales, and even jewelry sales at the STAR building. By far our most successful and ambitious fundraiser this Fall was our first annual Family Fun Day.
The University of Delaware Physical Therapy Program will host the 2nd Annual Family Fun Day on Saturday, August 29th to help raise money for the Marquette Challenge in support of physical therapy research. Family Fun Day is a carnival style event for the surrounding communities and neighboring states. It is a fun-filled day with music, crafts, food, tours, health screenings and numerous activities related to health and wellness. The event is held on the University of Delaware STAR Health Sciences Complex, in Newark, DE. For more information on this event, visit our Facebook page by searching “UDPT Family Fun Day,” or visit http://www.udel.edu/PT/.
The students of DPTA’s Student Special Interest Group (SSIG) composed of students from UD’s PT program and DelTech’s PTA students have been working side by side this year to help raise money for the Physical Therapy association. Besides their combined efforts in Rent-A-PT and Family Fun Day, the students have also continued their efforts in working with the Girl Scouts:
Magic in Motion
The University Physical Therapy students held their 3rd annual Magic in Motion event for Girl Scouts in the area. The Magic of Motion badge teaches 6th to 8th graders how to be physically active and demonstrates the role exercise plays in healing the body and maintaining health. This initiative also invites girls to investigate professions that use exercise for healing. Please click here for additional details about this event.
Thank you for your help, and I look forward to continue to work with you.