Campus Advantage Raises Almost $45,000 for the Fight against Cancer

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Car washes and bake sales are just a few ways in which Campus Advantage and team members at the 48 student housing communities it manages raised more than $44,761.06 to support the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

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As a national corporate team partner for the campaign, Campus Advantage had more than 50 teams participating in Relay for Life events in their communities nationwide. It is the first student housing company to participate as a national corporate team partner for the 2012 effort, which concluded Aug. 31.

Dan Oltersdorf, Campus Advantage vice president of residence life, said the company has had a number of its properties involved over the years with Relay for Life, but its leadership team wanted to give back on a national level, so they established a corporate partnership with the program.

"We challenge each property to field at least one team and encourage them to also create additional teams made up of residents," Oltersdorf said. "At each property, the team registration fees are covered. We created a Facebook group and Relay for Life webpage, held national conference calls and shared ideas across the portfolio of properties we manage."

Oltersdorf also challenged employees to raise $50,000 for the cause by agreeing to shave his head bald if the company met the goal. While it remains to be seen whether Oltersdorf will lose his hair, the company did see 417 of its staff participate in Relay for Life events and secured more than 750 donations. American Cancer Society CEO John Seffrin recently recognized the company for its involvement with the National Team Program Award.

"We believe we have an opportunity and a responsibility to give back to the communities in which we operate," Oltersdorf said. "We want our residents to be better for having lived in our communities, and this is one way that we take action on our vision of seeing a world where more people are living successful and enriched lives."

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is the world's largest movement to end cancer. It unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and fight back against this disease. Teams of people from all walks of life camp out at local schools, parks or fairgrounds and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Teams raise money prior to the event then celebrate their fund-raising efforts while honoring survivors and remembering those lost to cancer in special ceremonies during the event.

About Campus Advantage

Campus Advantage (CA) is an Austin-based real estate firm that offers higher education management, development, acquisition and consulting services. The company works to create winning partnerships between colleges, universities, investors, developers and owners in an effort to help students achieve their academic and personal goals. For additional information, please visit http://www.campusadv.com.

SOURCE Campus Advantage