Organizing Group:
The student section of ASME at Grand Valley State University, with help from the West Michigan ASME Section.

Brief Description of the Program:
Part One: Fundraiser:  Design-build temporary shelters. Assignment by heat transfer professor to design & build temporary shelters which could be used by agencies such as the Red Cross for disaster relief shelters.

Part Two: Design-build playroom in a shelter (former warehouse) for homeless women and children, using funds from part one.

Estimated cost:
To build shelters: under $50. Food for campout: $250. Publicity: $235 (printing & mailing).

Summary of Fundraising:
After the students designed and built their shelters, they found sponsors who agreed to make donations based on the shelters’ thermal performance. The students had an overnight campout, entertaining many other students around the campfire with engineering stories. They monitored indoor & outdoor temperatures. Almost $2000 was raised this way. Funds for the food and publicity were covered by a grant from the college’s philantropy center and the School of Engineering

Number of People Involved:
30-40 people, including students from 2 colleges, professional engineers, and professor/ASME advisor.

Amount of time involved in planning and running:
Two months to plan and build shelters. Three months to plan and build mission playroom.

Contact:
Dr. Shirley Fleischmann, ASME advisor at Grand Valley State University, 301 West Fulton Street, Grand Rapids, MI 40504
616-771-6761, email: Fleischs@gvsu.edu.