It’s known that members of Greek organizations on John Carroll’s campus do more than just participate in Greek life. Austin McClure is an excellent example of that! He takes the fraternity man’s value of service to the next level, and he’s this week’s profile!
1. Where are you from?
Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, which is located 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh.
2. What is your major?
I am majoring in International Business with Language and Culture, and I am minoring in Entrepreneurship.
3. What are you involved in at JCU?
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Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity
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Interfraternity Council Vice President of Service & Philanthropy
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Head Organizer of JCU Cures, a St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving event.
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Carroll Ballers Volunteer
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SWAT Leader
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Danie’s Day Committee Member
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Leadership Scholars Program
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Student Ambassador for Hyland Software
4. Are you involved in anything off campus?
I have organized multiple service events at The Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry.
5. What is your plan for after graduation?
Upon graduation, I will be pursuing my MBA through John Carroll’s 5th-year MBA Program. After I earn my MBA, I plan on entering the software industry at Hyland Software where I aspire to help the company grow its international presence.
6. Can you give a brief explanation of the origins of St. Baldricks?
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is the world’s largest volunteer-powered organization for childhood cancer. From its beginnings, St. Baldrick’s has believed that kids deserve the chance to be kids – fun-loving, carefree, refreshingly honest, and always a little goofy – and deserve the chance at a healthy future. Donations raised by St. Baldrick’s fundraisers have made it possible for St. Baldrick’s to fund more than $200 million to support the development of childhood cancer treatments that are as unique as every kid. The Foundation is known for its signature head-shaving events where volunteers get bald to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and raise money to support childhood cancer research.
7. When did you first become involved with St. Baldricks?
I first heard about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation at an annual North-American Interfraternity Conference held in Indianapolis. The mission and past accomplishments of St. Baldrick’s immediately sparked my interest and I knew that the John Carroll community would love to participate in a fun head-shaving event with an even better cause.
8. Why is the foundation meaningful to you?
St. Baldrick’s is meaningful to me because of the children we are saving. This seems like a very cliché answer, but upon reading the stories of the children that JCU Cures is honoring, I almost broke down into tears because of what these kids have gone through and will continue to experience for the rest of their lives. My heart goes out to children with cancer and they need our help because of the huge fundraising gap for childhood cancer research.
9. Where do the proceeds go to?
Of every dollar raised, 74% funds research to find a cure, 22% goes to fundraising (website, phones, postage, printing, t-shirts, office space, staff, etc.) and 4% goes to administration (accounting, distributing and monitoring grants, etc.). Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has awarded more than $200 million to support lifesaving research, making the St. Baldrick’s Foundation the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants.
10. How can other people get involved?
JCU Cures, hosted by the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Council, was scheduled for October 20th, from 3:00pm-7:00 pm in the D.J. Lombardo Student Center Atrium. Whether you wanted to shave your head, raise awareness, volunteer for an event, or create a fund that honors a loved one, you have the power to fund research that saves kids’ lives by joining JCU Cures!