University at Buffalo, School of Management—Out of the Darkness Walk

Justin Voty, Second year MBA student, University at Buffalo, School of Management, reports on a service project conducted by first and second year full-time MBA students.

The University at Buffalo (UB) MBA students participated in the 3rd annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk. The walk was held on September 19 at the Delaware Park Rose Garden in Buffalo, New York. Walk co-chairperson and second-year MBA student Erica Schmidt began her work with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in February of 2007, after losing her father to suicide. 

Manish Sabnis, a second year student who helped to put together the UB MBA team commented that, “This was a first time walk for me, fortunately for me I have not lost anyone in my family, relatives or friends but my heart went out for the people who did. I could feel that this walk was not only about showing love for someone dear but also about sending the signal out in the world that we can prevent it and that just gave me a satisfying feeling and immense happiness of giving back to community and knowing this is adds some meaning to others lives."

“This was the second year that I participated in the walk. It was great to see the positive effect that the event can have on those affected by suicide. This is a topic that the general public knows little about. Each year the walk is able to create a bit more awareness. It is exciting to see even how much the walk have grown in one year,” said Justin Voty.

This year’s event had 450 people in attendance, and raised $32,000 to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The money raised goes to educational programs and resources to family and friends that have lost someone to suicide in Western New York. This is the third year the walk has been held and it has grown dramatically each year.
 
For more information regarding the Out of the Darkness Walk or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention please visit: www.afsp.org.