Eller College of Management students and the UA community will take to the streets of Tucson Oct. 21-22 as volunteers for the 16th annual Eller College Make a Difference Day.

Caitlin Barner, a marketing and management information systems junior, is the student community outreach manager for Eller College Make a Difference Day. 

She handles backend operations regarding the event, such as registration and placing volunteers with different engagements.

The college partners with United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona as a way to reach out to larger non-profit organizations in Tucson, Barner explained. 

From there, United Way gives the college engagements to choose from. 

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Eller College’s partnership with United Way extended from their participation in United Way’s Day of Caring. 

“It’s kind of like a double whammy between volunteering for United Way and volunteering for Eller,” Barner said. 

The goal for this year was to have around 1,250 volunteers, but there are already over 1,400 volunteers registered, according to Barner. 

Volunteers are placed throughout the community with different engagements. Barner said the event usually has a lot of the same engagements from year to year because of how well volunteers perform their first time. 

This year, the two-day event will be more focused on making the community look better. Volunteers may be placed to work with Tucson Clean and Beautiful, Therapeutic Ranch for Animals and Kids, Ben’s Bells or Cyclovia, to name a few.

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“I’m excited to see my hard work and the class’ hard work come together and people really enjoying themselves due to that commitment with the event,” Barner said. 

Paulo Goes, Dean of Eller College of Management, will experience his first Eller College Make a Difference Day as dean. He said he is excited to participate and learn more about this event. 

Goes said he believes Eller College Make a Difference Day is a great opportunity for students, faculty and staff to engage and connect with the community. 

“I think as the business college in Tucson, we have to be very close to the community,” Goes said. “We have to be very close to the population around us and understand how we fit and how we can help.”

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