July 11, 2014

SVSU Students Select Charity Partner for annual ‘Battle of the Valleys’

Saginaw Valley State University's Student Association has selected its charitable partner for the 12th annual “Battle of the Valleys” fundraising competition. SVSU students will raise funds for the Cory Rivard, Jr. Promise Foundation when they compete against their rivals from Grand Valley State University during the weeklong challenge in November.

The selected charity has ties to both schools.  It was created in 2012 by the Rivard family of Algonac, Mich., in memory of Cory Rivard, Jr., who committed suicide in January 2011. Cory attended GVSU, while his younger brother Josh was a very active student during his years at SVSU; Josh graduated in May.

The Cory Rivard, Jr. Promise Foundation seeks to educate college students about depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses by working directly with college campuses to increase suicide awareness and prevention. Using the tagline “A Hug From Above,” the foundation encourages students to show their love and gratitude for those around them as Cory did: with a hug.

The SVSU Student Association hopes the selection will remind students at both schools of the importance and true meaning of “Battle of the Valleys,” which began in 2003 to capitalize upon the schools’ football rivalry by raising funds for deserving non-profits. Over the past 11 years, the competition has generated $432,963 in charitable donations between the two schools.  SVSU students have raised a total of $275,498, winning eight of the 11 annual competitions, including the last six.

The 2014 “Battle of the Valleys” fundraising campaign will be held November 9-15. For more information, visit svsu.edu/bov.