TEAM Buzz finds donors generous

TEAM Buzz may not be rolling in cash, but compared to this time last year, the organization’s finances are much improved.

Last year, corporate sponsors were few and far between, leaving the Tech service organization struggling to find alternative sources of funding.

"‘It’s the economy,'” said Katie Twist, chair of TEAM Buzz Steering Committee. “That was [the companies’] excuse.”

Last year, TEAM Buzz was only able to raise about $2,500 in corporate sponsorships. Organization leaders were forced to seek additional funding from other on-campus organizations like the Residence Hall Association and the Georgia Tech Student Foundation. A year later, the situation is improving, and companies are more willing to give.

Twist said the funding situation is “Better. Definitely better. We weren’t sure about money at all [last year].”

“It is not perfect yet,” Twist said, “but companies are a little more willing [to donate].”

So far, TEAM Buzz has raised $8,500 from corporate sponsors.

Twist credits organization members working in TEAM Buzz’s development section who began fund-raising efforts in January.

“We picked three girls this year, and they really got a jump on this early,” Twist said. The biggest donors are Kimberly-Clark and LSI Logic. Other companies have offered in-kind donations like food.

Theta Xi fraternity also donated $600. But TEAM Buzz’s largest source of funding comes from student government. The House and Senate passed bills allocating nearly $10,000 to the organization this week. This amounts to just under half of TEAM Buzz’s total $20,000 budget. Student government did not allocate money this year for T-shirts, but participants will still receive one because TEAM Buzz will pay for them with corporate funding.

TEAM Buzz is a service organization that will coordinate 55 service projects around the Atlanta area on Oct. 18. The organization was founded seven years ago by Tech student Tony Chan.