WalMart Supports Wesleyan's SIFE Go Green Efforts

West Virginia Wesleyan College issued the following news release:


WalMart is the latest business corporation to support West Virginia Wesleyan's Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Go Green efforts. Buckhannon WalMart co-managers Rex Dotson and Lisa Pratt presented a $2,000 check to SIFE members on April 3.


SIFE and Region VII Planning and Development Council sponsored the first state-wide Go Green Conference on Wesleyan's campus on February 21. Over 600 persons and over 40 vendors from throughout West Virginia and surrounding states attended the event. The goal of the convention was to inform and involve 'Go Green' attendees in environmental sustainability issues, while challenging everyone to recognize the economic benefits as well as their energy footprint and improve overall energy use. WalMart's contribution was used to cover advertising expenses for the event.


In addition to WalMart, other corporate sponsors for the Go Green Conference were Pratt & Whitney, Mountain State Expo and Services, and WBOY-TV. Region VII provided financial assistance through a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.


The success of the first Go Green Convention helped Wesleyan to be one of two West Virginia SIFE teams to win a regional championship. It was Wesleyan's seventh regional title in nine years. The team will advance to national competition in Philadelphia May 10-12.


SIFE is a global organization active in more than 47 countries and is funded by financial contributions from corporations, entrepreneurs, foundations, government agencies, and individuals. SIFE teams are led by faculty advisors and are challenged to develop community outreach projects that reach the organization's educational topics: market economics, success skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, business ethics, and environmental sustainability.


There are 1,700 SIFE teams globally and 950 in the United States. Wesleyan's SIFE team is led by Dr. Scott Bellamy, associate professor of economics, and Tracie Dodson, assistant professor of business.