York undergraduate students once again volunteered their time as part of the Schulich Charity Association (SCA) in co-hosting the third annual “FUNday” with MukiBaum Treatment Centres in York Region.
Some 21 student volunteers participated in FUNday at MukiBaum’s children’s day program, 
helping to run activities from edible sensory to arts and crafts, music sessions and obstacle courses.
Student Michael Goldfarb helping Alicia at FUNday at MukiBaum’s children’s day program
“The FUNday turned into a huge success for both the York University students and the students with complex disabilities that attend the MukiBaum School, we are so proud that we had created a new annual event,” says fourth-year Schulich BBA student Michael Goldfarb, SCA’s treasurer.
It was just one of the many SCA volunteer days that are organized with different causes in mind, which also provided volunteers a chance to get to know the organization. The SCA’s relationship with the MukiBaum began in the summer of 2010 and in that short time it has raised $9,235 for their programs through the SCA’s annual fashion show.
“Typically, we volunteer at different types of organizations and do activities, such as working with disabled children, tree planting, packing boxes for the food bank and taking part in charity runs, such as the Run for the Cure, this year raising $8,395 for breast cancer research,” says Goldfarb.
The Schulich Charity Association (SCA), founded in 1996, is an undergraduate, student-run club within York’s Schulich School of Business with a focus on fundraising, volunteering and providing non-profit education and awareness for its members. MukiBaum Treatment Centres is an educational treatment organization devoted to providing compassionate specialized services for children, adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities and emotional/psychiatric 
disorders, such as dual diagnosis, autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.
Students Miriam Siha and Alyssa Buzzelli volunteer as part of the Schulich Charity Association FUNday at MukiBaum Treatment Centres
The fashion show is the association’s “marquee event” – its main fundraiser – featuring various fashion and talent acts, typically from students both from Schulich and other programs.
“Each year we raise money for a different charity that we partner with and they assist us in putting on the show,” he says. MukiBaum was the recipient of the funds two years in a row. The 2011 show raised $5,035 for the centres, while the 2012 show raise an additional $4,200. Since its inception, the SCA has raised more than $62,000 for various charitable organizations.
The next Fashion Show will be on Jan. 24, 2013 at the Underground. It will raise money for UNITY Charity.
Students who volunteered at part of the Schulich Charity Association to help children have a great time at MukiBaum’s children’s day program
“We also hold non-profit education events, such as our annual speaker series and symposium. In these events we bring together both leaders in non-profit organizations and representatives from corporations who volunteer their time and abilities within the non-profit/charity community. They meet and talk with students about their stories, involvement and what they have accomplished,” says Goldfarb.
In addition, many SCA members also take part in the Muki Baum Foundation’s Community Outreach Program, a volunteer-run program for children with autism and other disabilities and their families.
For more information, visit www.MukiBaum.com, the Schulich Charity Association and UNITY Charity.