Toting collection buckets and donning their familiar red ponchos, University of Michigan medical students will once again take to the streets of Ann Arbor this weekend in support of local children.
On Friday and Saturday, students from the Galens Medical Society will accept donations from shoppers and pedestrians as part of the 86th annual Tag Days fundraising event for children in Washtenaw County.
Donors receive a tag to wear on their coat or purse showing their support, and 100 percent of the money raised goes directly toward children’s programs in the area. Last year’s event raised more than $62,000.
In the past, Galens has provided funds to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Child and Family Life program, the Corner Health Center in Ypsilanti, Family Book Club of Ann Arbor, the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and Special Days Camp, a week-long summer camp for children with cancer and leukemia.
“Tag Days is Galens’ major fundraiser that the medical students look forward to each year,” says Catherine Nosal, a second-year medical student and one of the chairs of the event. “Not only do we get to raise money for such a great cause, but we also have a blast braving the cold and spreading holiday cheer throughout the Ann Arbor community and hospital system.”
Galens members will be at locations across Ann Arbor, including Main Street, State Street, the downtown area and the hospitals.
The Tag Days fundraiser coincides with Ann Arbor’s Midnight Madness, an annual shopping event where participating stores extend their hours Friday night and offer holiday discounts.
Event details:
Date: Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1
Time: Beginning 6 a.m. Friday and ending 6 p.m. Saturday
Location: Various, throughout Ann Arbor
Ways to donate:
• Donate to medical students throughout Ann Arbor on Friday and Saturday nights
• Visit http://www.umich.edu/~galens/tagdays.shtml and donate via the Paypal link on the website
For more information about this event, contact Catherine Nosal at cnosal@umich.edu.
Resources:
Galens Medical Society, www.umich.edu/~galens
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, www.mottchildren.org