On Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Gold Side partnered with Chick-fil-A to raise money for Smile-A-Mile, a local organization that helps children impacted by childhood cancer.  

Smile-A-Mile is partnered with Children’s of Alabama. Through partnerships, Smile-A-Mile provides funding each year for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology as well as training with the UAB Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.  

Smile-A-Mile even hosts camps at Children’s Harbor on Lake Marin in Alexander City, Ala. These camps for kids battling cancer allows them to experience camp while under medical supervision. Here, the kids can have the opportunity to have fun, make friends and spend time in nature. With part of Smile-A-Mile’s mission being to provide kids with hope and the spirit of love, the camping experience embodies this. 

Meghan Hilley, head of public relations for Gold Side, explained how important this spirit night was for Gold Side.  

“With Gold Side’s philanthropy focus being on childhood cancer awareness and one of our PR cabinet members being a childhood cancer survivor, we knew we had to do something special.”  

Gold Side decided to partner with Chick-fil-A because they felt it would be the best way to raise money for Smile-A-Mile.  

To coordinate with Chick-fil-A, Gold Side contacted UM alumna and former Gold Side leader Catherine Renda, now Calera Chick-fil-A’s marketing director, to plan the event. 

That night, Montevallo students or Gold Side supporters were able to help Gold Side in raising money. To be a part of the fundraiser, students and supporters had to mention Gold Side or Smile-A-Mile and 15% of their order sale would go to their cause.  

Hilley said that spirit night was a success and that, “it was so simple to set up and we would definitely do it again.”  

After spirit night ended, Gold Side was able to raise $150 for Smile-A-Mile. 

Gold Side has already hosted two fundraisers before spirit night, selling buttons and a live auction. Through these fundraisers, Gold Side has been able to raise $600 for Smile-A-Mile. 

“We could not be more grateful to everyone who has been a part of this philanthropy journey,” said Hilley on behalf of Gold Side. “We are so excited to give back to kids who really need it.”