MOST OUTSTANDING Philanthropic Event NOMINEE
Vietnamese Student Association at Louisiana State University (VSA-LSU)
VSA-LSU Instagram Dare Live
Provide a detailed description of the event and the population it served. Details MUST include: date of event, number of participants, program purpose (goals, objectives, etc.), use of resources (finances, community support, etc.), marketing techniques, and amount fundraised.
Dare Live was hosted on March 6, 2025, at 2025-2026 VSA-LSU Webmaster Dan Nguyen's house. The event was in collaboration with VSA-LSU'S selected auctionees and promoted primarily through Instagram. The social media kept our audience engaged by promoting milestones, such as shaving an e-board member's head. The audience in attendance included VSA members and various community members.
The purpose of the event was to raise funds for the UVSA Gulf Coast's CPP this year while simultaneously keeping community engagement. It created an entertaining platform for our audience to make generous donations in exchange for interactive dares, encouraging philanthropy.
The event was organized with organization funds and minimal-cost materials. The event successfully raised $1,463.92 for the Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped, making it the highest amount ever raised by VSA-LSU.
What efforts were used to motivate and involve the organization's members?
The organization's members were motivated by our milestone dares and through collaboration. The talent auctionees were general members and a part of our large freshman class. The interactive environment also encouraged people to dare friends taking part in the event.
How did the organization overcome any challenges that arose while planning and implementing the event?
One of the main challenges in planning Dare Live was ensuring strong fundraising participation while maintaining high energy and engagement throughout the event. Because donations were tied to audience interaction, maintaining momentum was critical.
Another challenge was having a reliable location. The options were very limited and the lighting almost became an issue. The eboard had to adapt to this by using multiple lamps outside to keep dare live successful.
