Ever since Brighter Dawns began as a student group at Wesleyan University, the Wesleyan chapter has continued to hold events that support both the beneficiaries of Brighter Dawns’ programs in Bangladesh as well as communities closer to home, from Wesleyan students, professors and parents to residents of the greater Middletown, CT area. You can read about some of the past events at Wesleyan below:
Finals Care Packages
When: On sale April 25-May 3
Where: Usdan University Center, or order online (form will be added soon)
Cost: $3/5 cookies, $1/brownie, $3/5 cake truffles
As a follow-up to the Care Cookie sale in March, Brighter Dawns will be selling care packages that will be delivered during finals week at Wesleyan University. Although we will be selling regular cookies rather than giant ones this time, we’re expanding our selection to include brownies and cake truffles.
5K for Brighter Dawns
Saturday April 15, 11am at Long Lane Farm
Brighter Dawns held a 5K run/walk fundraiser for WesFest, Wesleyan University’s annual festival weekend with events for current and newly-accepted students, as well as members of the Middletown community, Wesleyan professors, Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliani, and Wesleyan University President Michael Roth. Over 50 runners, joggers, and walkers participated, and the event was followed by an Interfaith brunch and open discussion hosted by the cosponsor of the event, the Interfaith Justice League.
World Water Day Lecture
Thursday March 31, 6pm-8pm, Shanklin 107
In honor of World Water Day, which was on March 22nd, Earth House and Outhouse invite you to a presentation on the importance of water. E&ES Professor Peter Patton will be speaking about the unsustainability of the
irrigation system in US agriculture, and Government Professor Michael Nelson will discuss international
water politics. Brighter Dawns will be giving a brief presentation after the lectures about our mission.
Cupcake Cup
March 31, 6pm-8pm at Usdan University Center
Full House will be hosting a cupcake bake-off between program houses. Come taste-test their delicious creations, and vote for your favorite cupcakes! All proceeds will go to Brighter Dawns.
Gingerbread House Contest
In December 2010, Brighter Dawns hosted a gingerbread house-making contest, in which Wesleyan University students worked in teams to build houses, buses, rocket ships, and castles out of gingerbread. The icing and gingerbread were generously provided by Bon Appetit, the dining services company at Wesleyan. At the end of the day, a panel of volunteers from Bon Appetit selected a winner. After the contest, all of the gingerbread houses were donated to Amazing Grace Food Pantry in Middletown, CT.
“Slumdog Millionaire” Screening
In December 2010, Brighter Dawns hosted a screening of “Slumdog Millionaire,” an award-winning film about a young man from a slum in India who, after a difficult and dangerous childhood, ends up competing on the show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” The Brighter Dawns team at Wesleyan chose the film screening as a fun way for students to relax after the last day of classes, and for the film’s message about overcoming hardship against all odds. The event was catered by Haveli’s restaurant in Middletown.
Snack Pack Sales
Based on an idea from Lindsay Kenney, one of our Programming Directors, Brighter Dawns began selling Snack Packs in the fall of 2010. These unique trail mix packets are sold every other Sunday night in the libraries of Wesleyan University, providing students with a healthy snack choice while they study.
Care Cookie Sale
During midterm week at Wesleyan University in 2011, Brighter Dawns sold “care cookies” – giant cookies that students could order for their friends (or themselves!) as a good luck gift during exam week. We offered a variety of cookie types and toppings to choose from, and wrote personalized messages from the senders on the cookies in icing. A team of Brighter Dawns members, led by Bonnie Quach-Wong and Shirley Wu, devoted their weekend to baking, icing, and wrapping the cookies, which were then delivered to recipients’ campus mailboxes. While it took a lot of hard work, we sold over 100 cookies, and received many good reviews from surprised cookie recipients!
