August 2, 2022

SVSU’s Student Association selects Self Love Beauty as 2022 BOV charitable partner

Saginaw Valley State University students will continue a tradition of supporting community organizations as the Battle of the Valleys fundraising competition enters its 20th year.  

Student Association — SVSU’s student government — announced that it has selected Self Love Beauty as the charitable partner for this year’s competition. 

Self Love Beauty is a Midland-based nonprofit dedicated to improving the mental and emotional health of teens and young adults. The organization provides programs that help develop skills in confidence, self-esteem, and social and emotional wellbeing. Since its founding in 2018, Self Love Beauty has helped more than 2,500 individuals throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region. 

Madison Pignatelli, an elementary education major from Saginaw, and Chase Valuet, an accounting major from Warren, serve as Battle co-chairs. Pignatelli says that the spirit of giving back was at the core of the selection. 

“This year is our 20th anniversary for Battle of the Valleys; we want to help the communities grow together,” said Pignatelli. 

Overall, 33 nonprofit organizations applied to be the beneficiary of this year’s Battle. Valuet says they chose Self Love Beauty because the organization supports a mission that many young people understand. 

“What the organization does and stands for really struck close to the heart for the both of us,” said Valuet. “Giving the youth and people in their early adulthood an outlet to deal with mental health problems, eating disorders and other things of the sort meant a lot.” 

Battle of the Valleys began in 2003 as a fundraising competition between the student bodies of SVSU and Grand Valley State University, capitalizing on the football rivalry between the two schools. After stepping away from the fundraiser in 2019 and 2020, GVSU returned in 2021; however, it recently announced that it will not compete this year. 

Since 2003, the SVSU Student Association has raised over $500,000 for regional nonprofits through Battle of the Valleys. SVSU has won the fundraising competition 14 of the 17 years it has competed with GVSU. 

The 2022 Battle of the Valleys event kicks off on Monday, September 26 with a variety of activities on campus, and will culminate at the SVSU-GVSU football game on Saturday, October 1 at GVSU.