Inter-Residence Housing Council Broomball will partner with Suomi Restaurant on Saturday, Jan. 17 for a “dine and donate” fundraiser to support Michigan Tech’s broomball league. From 7 a.m. to 2 p.m, Soumi will open their doors to the community for breakfast and lunch, with 10 percent of their profits going to IRHC broomball.
As Michigan Tech’s most popular intramural sport, broomball is a great way for students to get together during the winter months. Broomball offers a fun yet competitive experience for players of all skill levels, making it a key part of recreational life at Tech. According to Elise Buzzell, IHRC Broomball’s PR Manager, the dine and donate event will provide an easy way for people to support a student organization that heavily relies on donations and assistance from the local community. “Running broomball requires significant resources,” Buzzell said. “Between committee hours, referees, rink staff, and ice maintenance, the costs add up quickly.”
Broomball has seen an increase in participation this semester, which has contributed to rising costs. This forced the league to implement an increase in the registration fee, a decision that Buzzell said was necessary to maintain the quality and safety of the program. She explained that “without the number of referees, helmet hut volunteers, and rink staff we currently have, the league simply wouldn’t be able to operate.” To help reduce these costs, IRHC Broomball has had to resort to alternate funding sources, such as the Suomi dine and donate event. Buzzell tells us that “this event allows people to support broomball in a simple way while also supporting a local restaurant.”
IRHC Broomball hopes that this fundraiser will raise awareness about the work that goes into maintaining the program while they gain financial support. All students, faculty, and community members are encouraged to stop by Soumi to participate.
For updates on the fundraiser and other broomball news, IRHC Broomball can be found on Instagram at @irhc_broomball.
