Alfred University marketing club raises money to help provide holiday gifts for Hornell-area families

Toys pictured above, purchased with funds raised by the Alfred University Marketing Club, were provided to needy families in the Hornell area.

Students in Alfred University's Marketing Club raised nearly $500 toward an effort to provide holiday gifts to needy families in the Hornell area, while at the same time supporting a local business.

Shelly Freyn, associate professor of marketing in Alfred University's College of Business, said club members sold sweets produced by Alfred business Honey Pot Chocolates. The effort raised $470, which was used to purchase toys donated to Catholic Charities of Hornell for its holiday toy drive.

This marks the fourth year the Alfred University Marketing Club has helped provide toys to needy families in the area. In past years, students collected new and gently-used toys in the weeks leading up to the holidays and provided them to Hope for Hornell, a partnership between the Hornell City School District, local churches, businesses, and civic organizations. This year, the club chose to raise money and use the proceeds to purchase gifts to donate to Catholic Charities.

Students Idalia Paula (left) and Inmanol Baez Hidalgo, members of the Marketing Club at Alfred University, staff a table selling Honey Pot Chocolates at the College of Business' annual Finals Feast. Money raised from the sales was used to purchase toys distributed to needy families by Catholic Charities of Hornell.

"We wanted to help a local business (Honey Pot Chocolates)," Freyn said. "It was a win-win: we helped (Honey Pot) raise their brand awareness and also support" Catholic Charities' toy drive.

Alfred University alumna Tori Cramp '20, MBA '22 assisted in the Marketing Club toy drive while serving as assistant dean for the College of Business. Cramp, who lives and works in Rochester, has remained active in supporting charitable efforts in her hometown of Hornell. Her family owns Billy Schu's restaurant in Hornell, which for 21 years has offered free turkey dinners to members of the Hornell and surrounding communities who don't have someone to eat with, cannot afford a holiday meal, or are homebound. Last year, Billy Schu's extended the offer of a free meal to Alfred University students who remained in Alfred over the Thanksgiving Break.

At its holiday luncheon in December, the university presented the Cramp family with a Fiat Lux! Award for Inclusivity. The Fiat Lux! Awards were established in 2016 by Mark Zupan, university president, to honor people who bring distinction to Alfred University. The 2024 Fiat Lux! winners exemplify Alfred University's three core strengths: mentorship, intersections, and inclusivity.

Freyn said Cramp used the money raised this year by the Alfred University Marketing Club to purchase approximately 125 toys. Catholic Charities was able to provide gifts for more than 400 Hornell-area families, and none were turned down, thanks in part to the club's efforts.

A group of Alfred University students enjoy a meal during the College of Business Finals Feast on December 5. College of Business faculty prepared dishes for the popular event.

Club members made their final sales of Honey Pot candy at the annual "Finals Feast" held Dec. 5 on campus and hosted by the College of Business. The popular event is a traditional dinner where the College of Business faculty prepare home cooked meals for the students. Typically, attendance is well over 100 students, but due to a snowstorm, attendance at this year's Finals Feast was about 60. Freyn said the inclement weather didn't dampen the spirit of generosity, as many in attendance purchased chocolate in support of the toy drive.

Several Alfred University College of Business faculty cooked up some of their favorite recipes to serve students at the college's annual Finals Feast, held Dec. 5.