In service of others: Fisher gathers to give back to the community

Veterans Day is a time to honor military veterans of the United States Armed Forces for their service to the country. In that same spirit, Fisher students, faculty and staff gather each year on the holiday to give back to the greater Columbus community.

The annual student-led Fisher Impact Day provides students with a greater understanding of servant leadership and gives Business Buckeyes a chance to put themselves in other people’s shoes — to empathize with those experiencing illness, the loss of a stable home or injury while serving their country.

“Fisher Impact Day provides students a chance to connect and give back to the community and surrounding areas,” said Michael Fallon and Sam Ostrander, co-student directors of Fisher Impact Day’s on-campus activities. “Being able to connect and support the local community to which many of us call home is a crucial part of what we as Fisher students stand for.”

This year, more than 1,000 members of the Fisher community gathered on campus for a variety of hands-on service activities. The participants created:

• 6,173 forget-me-not flowers and 1,134 cards for Disabled American Veterans, an organization advocating for veterans’ access to benefits, employment, disaster relief and housing
• 657 no-sew blankets for My Very Own Blanket for children in foster care
• 1,505 dog toys for local animal shelters
• 884 positivity cards for children at Nationwide Children's Hospital

“All these organizations have outstanding impact within our community,” said Fallon, a third-year marketing and sports industry student. “Our day of service helps cultivate a movement to help those in need throughout the community. We estimate we have reached more than 5,000 people in need.”

The committee specifically chose the Disabled American Veterans to honor the bravery of veterans.

“The forget-me-not flowers each have an individual message attached,” said Fallon. “These forget-me-not flowers serve to remind the veterans they are not alone and that we are here to support and stand by them.”

While students were busy on campus, 140 Honors Cohort and graduate students traveled to Mt. Gilead, Ohio, to volunteer at Flying Horse Farms, a medical specialty camp for children with serious illnesses. Students met with Bill D’Onofrio (MBA ’07), the organization’s chair of the board, who shared the organization’s mission, vision and values.

“Flying Horse Farms provides kids with serious illnesses the chance to experience camp when they otherwise wouldn't be able to because of their health conditions,” said Chace Arnold, a fourth-year finance and real estate student. “On our tour, we were told about the hole in the wall at the entrance where campers would leave their illness behind and enter the camp as kids. This small detail embodies the spirit of Flying Horse Farms with how everything is thought of to provide the best experience possible.”

For Esperanza Duquesne, a Master of Human Resource and Management student, two of the organization’s values — all crew, no passengers or working together towards a common goal and giving feels good — resonated with her.

“Both perfectly capture the spirit of teamwork and service that guided our day,” she said. “Every volunteer contributed to making the camp ready for its next group of children, and it reminded me how collective effort can make a tangible difference.”

Duquesne’s seven-year-old nephew has a medical disability and has spent plenty of time at home or in hospitals, so seeing the care and intention behind the organization’s mission hit close to home.

“Before volunteering at Flying Horse Farms, I had not realized that such a place existed where children facing serious illnesses could simply be kids: laugh, explore and feel a sense of belonging,” she said. “It is an indescribable feeling knowing that there is a place where children like my nephew could feel safe, welcomed and even have fun.”

Claire Mochan, a fourth-year finance student and former youth camp counselor, joined her classmates in cleaning cabins, barns and bathrooms and preparing the camp for an upcoming family camp.

“It was cool to see how what we were doing made a difference that would then impact the children and families that were coming to participate in the camp,” said Mochan, who gained an understanding and perspective on the different types of work nonprofits do through the experience at Flying Horse Farms. “It was really rewarding to take action and witness firsthand what our work was going towards.”

Arnold discovered the value of teamwork and leadership.

“I learned about the importance of purpose-driven leadership and understanding the impact of my actions,” he said. “It was a great experience to collaborate alongside my peers toward a shared common goal. The day serves as a great reminder of the ability we all have to make a difference.”

Duquesne said the experience reinforces her belief that leadership starts with service.

“As I continue my journey through the Master of Human Resource Management program, I will carry with me the reminder that real impact begins when we give without expecting anything in return and when we all contribute as part of the crew,” she said. “In HR, collaboration and empathy are essential and this experience reinforced how small acts, when done together, can create a large impact.”