Nonprofit Mgm’t Class Organizes Charitable Event

From left are Communication Studies students Gina Brindisi ’16, Maureen Corbett ’16, and Nina Pellechio ’16. Photos by James Rolstone ’17

Emerson students gathered in the Multipurpose Room on the evening of October 23 for Catie, a clothing drive benefiting the nonprofit CatiesCloset.org.

The ticket for entrance was a clothing donation at the door, after which students could enjoy food, refreshments, and entertainment. The lead organizers, Communication Studies majors Maureen Corbett ’16 and Nina Pellechio ’16, are working with Catie’s Closet for a class project in Nonprofit Management taught by Cathryn Edelstein, scholar-in-residence in Communication Studies. Students in the class are paired with nonprofits and work with their organizations to improve their external communication campaigns.

The entire class helped out with planning the event, using this occasion to put to practice the skills they are learning in this new nonprofit foundation course. The event was deemed “very successful” by the organizers, as the class collected hundreds of items to donate.

Members of Emerson’s premier a cappella group, Noteworthy, volunteered their gift of music throughout the evening, and food was donated by Edelstein. Gina Brindisi ’16, Chia-ling Fan ’17, and Lea Phillips ’16 from the class provided assistance during the event with donations and event management.

According to its website, “Catie’s Closet improves school attendance and removes social stigma by providing an in-school resource of clothing and basic necessities to students living below the poverty line.” This organization has expanded throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and turns unused rooms in K–12 schools into spaces where students can find free clothes and supplies.

From left are Gina Brindisi ’16, Nina Pellechio ’16, faculty Cathryn Edelstein, Chia-ling Fan ’17, and Maureen Corbett ’16