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Engage. Connect. Transform.
Copyright © 2007 by Board of Trustees of The College GO Company, Inc.
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Imagine. Imagine a weekend on a college campus where students didn’t have to binge drink to be socially accepted. A weekend where not a single human soul felt isolated, depressed, or alone. A weekend void of drug and alcohol overdose. Instead, imagine a vibrant campus community where students engage to make creative ideas come to life. Where men and women connect to their outside communities, explore their surroundings, challenge their strengths, and grow in character… A Cry to Engage. We all know that this dream is far from the reality. Today almost 2,000 students die annually from drug and alcohol abuse. In addition, hundreds of thousands are being raped and assaulted. We live in a time where partying has become a way of life on college campuses, isolating certain students to the point of total despair, and putting others in danger of abuse, rape, even death. This trend of despair has become a vicious cycle. There was once a time when partying was simply a time to have a few drinks with friends new and old. Now the times are different. The party scene is no longer as innocent. A recent study revealed that 49% of college students abuse drugs and alcohol. This atmosphere is the number one extracurricular activity on college campuses. Because of this, students can’t avoid it. Seeking to engage in an alternative atmosphere, America’s best and brightest are crying out for help. The GO CO needs to answer their call.
The Challenge to Connect. The GO Company is a nonprofit organization that has been engaging students in a more constructive social atmosphere. In a setting where parents are too far away to maintain control and college faculty and administrators fail to socially connect with students, the most powerful solution to replacing the party atmosphere is in the hands of students. Unfortunately, while students hold the most powerful solution to the problem, they are not empowered with the resources to make lasting change. Often students go off to school thinking they can stand alone against the current. While many put up a good fight, they soon tire and fall victim to peer pressure. Realizing this, The GO Company staff, all recent college graduates, is trying to provide students with the leadership skills necessary to help them stand their ground. This leadership training inspires current students to resist peer pressure and create a different sort of social setting on their campus. Students trained by the GO CO gather their peers each weekend to participate in character building, life changing adventure challenges. Students participating in this GO CO social atmosphere share in unforgettable experiences. Transforming Student Life One Campus at a Time. Our programs are tried and true. Well over 100 students at a small liberal arts school in Virginia are now choosing to engage in GO CO adventure. The school’s administration has recognized their success and has joined the cause. Since the birth of the organization, the university has quadrupled the funding provided to empower the student leaders. Because of this success in engaging students in alternative social experiences, other colleges and universities along the east coast are looking to implement The GO Company programs on their respective campuses. One campus at a time, The GO Company is chasing down the vision to create a vibrant campus community where students make creative ideas come to life, connect to their outside communities, explore their surroundings, challenge their strengths, and grow in character.
As Students Engage & Connect, their Lives are Transformed. Please take a moment to hear from some of the young adults whose lives are forever changed because of their experience with GO CO. The GO Company Leadership Training— Over the past three years at the University of Richmond…
“This is an arena for us to not just have ideas, but put them to action.” – Gracie 10’
“We can get people to engage in something they’re not used to.” –Cecelia 10’
“It is good, clean fun apart from drinking all weekend.” –Bob 09’
“We explore the world; help others realize you have control over how much fun you have, and take initiative to find it for yourself.” – Katy 10’
“It was good to see it in action.” (When asked about the training day) – Bob 09’
What are you most excited about when it comes to being a GO CO leader ? “Be more well-rounded person.” – Cecelia 10’
“Get new perspectives and ideas from other students.” – Erik 09’
“Have new experiences and get out of [my] comfort zone.” – Katy 10’
Adventure Atmosphere— Over the past three years at the University of Richmond…
100% Of GO CO student participants recommended by the administration returned to the University of Richmond to participate in the following academic year.
99% Of ALL students who participated in a GO CO event returned to the University of Richmond to participate in the following academic year.
International Studies and Spanish majors from Northern Virginia. –Lolita 07’
Political science and leadership studies double major from Missouri. –Dave 07’
Business major from Annapolis, Maryland. –David 08’
University of London Exchange student. –Simeon 06’
Sociology major from Henderson, North Carolina. – Taylor 07’
Undecided from Pittsburg, PA.–Sean 08’
Sociology major from Rochester, NY. –Dan 07’
Business major from Connecticut—Erik 07’
What was so exciting about your GO CO adventure? “The highlight was without any doubt watching the sun rise from the east on the horizon that following morning as I swam in the ocean with my new found friends. As a young man in America for the first time that sight will remain as an abiding memory throughout my life. It is quite simply something that no photograph could ever reproduce.” –Simeon 06’
“We set up camp as it was pouring down rain and started a fire with pallets and cardboard boxes that we got from the back of a Family Dollar in Madison County.” –David 08’
“Not only is the GO CO adventurous and relaxing but it is also inviting. My favorite highlight of the trip was the eclectic mix of students that came on the trip and also how hanging out by the river drew other people to us.”– Taylor 07’
“Before we made the journey we stocked up on the essentials: graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows and food to grill out. On the way there we stopped at a gas station, we spotted some fine looking fire wood. We asked the employee at the gas station if he minded if we took some dead wood off his hands from the back yard, and he said we could. We continued to cut the wood we wanted, and then we were back on the road. We set up the tents, cut up fire wood, and grilled out. Everyone contributed to the functionality of the campsite.” –Erik 07’
“We hiked for three miles in the rain to go see the biggest waterfall they have at Shenandoah. When we got there, we climbed down to the bottom of the falls, and it was really shallow at the bottom so we all walked underneath it. The water was so cold that it was a shock to my system at first, but it was such a rush and an experience I'll never forget.” –Sean 08’
“On the trip I learned how to spot spiders in the dark by shining a flashlight and looking at their glowing eyes. I also learned a line or two of French and I learned about each of the kids on the trip who I didn’t know before. It was certainly a cool way to meet people.” –Erik 07’ How has GO CO impacted your college experience?
“I can now share a bond between my classmates that goes deeper than conversations about chemistry and biology.” –Dan 07’
“College life is very high pace and routine and an organization like GO CO allowed me to interact in a friendly warm environment that is very necessary, in my opinion, so students can happily function in their daily college lives.” –Lolita 07’
“Having recently arrived at Richmond the opportunity to meet new people and see the surrounding area was clearly a very attractive one. At that stage I was unaware of the bonds that weekend would build and can say with absolute certainty that bursting the Richmond bubble cemented my friendships in a way that was unrivalled by any campus based activity.” –Simeon 06’
“Each time I have spent time with the GO CO crew I have met a new person and added another familiar face to campus life.” – Taylor 07’
“I think it gives people a great opportunity to experience something they never have.” –Sean 08’
“My GOCO trip was an excellent get away from a campus social scene that is often monotonous and promotes a lot of conformity. I knew I was with people I could call my friends the entire time.” –Dave 07’
“Everyone is so friendly and inviting, it is so nice to join a group that instantly makes you feel welcomed and wanted.” –Lolita 07’
“I was able to totally detach myself from school and get into the lives of the (people) around me. No other campus activity is that refreshing and conducive to building strong relationships.” –Dan 07’
“I think by spending a short time away from campus and studying, I’m more comfortable at Richmond and can better concentrate while I am there.” –Dave 07’ Why is it important to you that GO CO is a social atmosphere led and organized by your peers?
“It is real and it is from the heart.” –Dan 07’
“There’s no outside stress and it really makes you feel like you are getting a break from school. It is so nice; the environment GO CO creates is perfect.” –Lolita 07’
“I got to take a leadership role in the group on my very first trip and I felt more relaxed and was able to express myself freely.” –Dave 07’
“The leaders are genuine men that deeply care for the social environment of our school. Richmond needed this.” –Dan 07’
“I have talked to many who feel that the[GO CO] experience helped save them from withdrawing from the school.” – Dr. Steve Bisese
A Vision to Impact the Many. The lives of these students and countless others have been forever changed because of their experience with GO CO. Inspired by these accomplishments, the founders have created a plan to engage, connect, and transform the lives of students at 50 college campuses over the next two years…
Fall 2007 Students at 5 campuses in New England are empowered to implement GO CO adventures on their campus.
Spring 2008 Students at 10 campuses in New England are empowered to implement GO CO adventures on their campus.
Fall 2008 Students at 20 campuses in New England are empowered to implement GO CO adventures on their campus.
Spring 2009 Students at 30 campuses in New England are empowered to implement GO CO adventures on their campus.
Fall 2009 Students at 50 campuses in New England are empowered to implement GO CO adventures on their campus.
The Action Plan. Working around the clock to reach these high goals, the GO CO staff will follow the plan below to successfully impact the lives of men and women across New England. Summer of 2007
Fall of 2007 Engaging, Connecting, and Transforming Student’s Lives at 5 Institutions.
Winter Break 2007
Spring of 2008 Engaging, Connecting, and Transforming Student’s Lives at 10 Institutions.
Summer of 2008
Fall of 2008 Engaging, Connecting, and Transforming Student’s Lives at 20 Institutions.
Winter 2008
Spring 2009 Engaging, Connecting, and Transforming Student’s Lives at 30 Institutions.
Summer 2009
Fall 2009 Engaging, Connecting, and Transforming Student’s Lives at 50 Institutions.
Necessary Resources. The GO Company currently relies on the generous contributions from individual donors, the optional contributions from student adventurers, and funding from each participating college and university. Individual donors cover the administrative costs necessary to oversee the GO CO regional operations. These generous donations support the GO CO staff of instructors and administrators, along with paying for the travel, printing, and other administrative costs to run GO CO regionally. As the GO CO expands its reach, we will rely more on corporate sponsorship to cover the growing GO CO staff and other administrative costs. Student adventurers and participating campuses contributions cover the leadership training and adventure costs at each institution. Students and campus government create a student account for student leaders to lead adventures on their respective campuses. As more students are engaged and connected on each campus, administration and campus government increase annual funding. For instance, at the University of Richmond, funding from the administration quadrupled from $500 to $2000, simply to cover the costs of student weekend adventures.
The College GO Company, Inc. The College GO Company, Inc. was officially founded as a nonprofit organization in 2006. The organization is governed by an unsalaried Board of Trustees comprised of the two of the original founders who are in the process of expanding their board. The GO Company was established with the following purposes as noted in the Articles of Organization: “The College GO Company is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.” For information about making a tax-deductible gift, contact The GO Company Head Office.
Largest Donors Individual donors have made generous contributions to cover overhead costs and purchase equipment for student adventures. There support is greatly appreciated.
Dr. and Mrs. Jack Campi Mr. and Mrs. John St. Denis Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Panasuk Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cross |