2008 Woodie Awards
SmiTHrift's Spring Sale Draws Students to Shop for Philanthropy
Anna Kastrilevich
Issue date: 4/20/06 Section: News
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SmiTHrift, a student-run initiative to open a philanthropic thrift store on campus, hosted a spring sale in the Carroll Room of the Campus Center from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on April 12.
To the energetic beat of music, students sorted through clothing items that were neatly arranged on tables and hanging racks. The store resembled an upscale boutique with yard sale prices. Shirts cost $1-$2, pants and jeans cost $3 and shoes cost $3-$4.
SmiTHrift made over $500 in profit through selling about 200 items donated in the spring of 2005. Student volunteers picked a spring selection of clothing in new or good condition. Sale items included T-shirts, dressy shirts, jeans, dresses, skirts, books and jewelry. Luggage, a set of golf clubs and three suits donated by the Career Development Office were put on silent auction. Groove, a student acapella group, also performed.
"This was a thrift store victory," said Olga Radovskaya '07, the head coordinator of SmiTHrift. "Everyone who came in to look at our clothes was so excited. Everyone who heard that we want to open a store said that it would be great blessing.
"Smith is in general very philanthropic and feminist, and that is the best environment for an organization like SmiTHrift to thrive."
SmiTHrift is committed to donating all proceeds to philanthropic initiatives that benefit women and girls in the Pioneer Valley. Women's shelters, after school programs and outreach programs will be a first priority.
"When we donate the money, it will be our coming out to the community," Radovskaya said.
SmiTHrift is sponsored and supported by Women & Financial Independence (WFI), Smith's program in financial education. SmiTHrift serves two primary functions according to its tentative mission statement. The first is business entrepreneurship education, which allows students to "learn, hands-on, how to build and run a business at all stages."
"For Smith women, we want this to be an opportunity to get first-hand experience with business," Radovskaya said. "It is usually a male-dominated field but now, statistically more women are starting businesses than men. We want to give Smith women the tools to take the risk of starting a business and give them the philanthropic education.
To the energetic beat of music, students sorted through clothing items that were neatly arranged on tables and hanging racks. The store resembled an upscale boutique with yard sale prices. Shirts cost $1-$2, pants and jeans cost $3 and shoes cost $3-$4.
SmiTHrift made over $500 in profit through selling about 200 items donated in the spring of 2005. Student volunteers picked a spring selection of clothing in new or good condition. Sale items included T-shirts, dressy shirts, jeans, dresses, skirts, books and jewelry. Luggage, a set of golf clubs and three suits donated by the Career Development Office were put on silent auction. Groove, a student acapella group, also performed.
"This was a thrift store victory," said Olga Radovskaya '07, the head coordinator of SmiTHrift. "Everyone who came in to look at our clothes was so excited. Everyone who heard that we want to open a store said that it would be great blessing.
"Smith is in general very philanthropic and feminist, and that is the best environment for an organization like SmiTHrift to thrive."
SmiTHrift is committed to donating all proceeds to philanthropic initiatives that benefit women and girls in the Pioneer Valley. Women's shelters, after school programs and outreach programs will be a first priority.
"When we donate the money, it will be our coming out to the community," Radovskaya said.
SmiTHrift is sponsored and supported by Women & Financial Independence (WFI), Smith's program in financial education. SmiTHrift serves two primary functions according to its tentative mission statement. The first is business entrepreneurship education, which allows students to "learn, hands-on, how to build and run a business at all stages."
"For Smith women, we want this to be an opportunity to get first-hand experience with business," Radovskaya said. "It is usually a male-dominated field but now, statistically more women are starting businesses than men. We want to give Smith women the tools to take the risk of starting a business and give them the philanthropic education.
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