The Ryerson Engineering Student Society donated $1 for every like and share its Instagram post received
The Ryerson Engineering Student Society (RESS) raised $7,500 for the SickKids Foundation through Push the Post, more than it would have if this event was held in person, according to a Facebook post issued on Friday.
Push the Post was originally an in-person event where engineering students at Ryerson University pushed a Volkswagen Beetle around the Kerr Hall Quad for 24 hours, but due to COVID-19, the event was moved online.
Gianluca Basile, vice-president operations at RESS, said it was tough to transition the event from in-person to online.
“The goal of the Bug Push was always to have an event where everyone in the community is able to collectively work towards one goal,” said Basile. “Now some might say that sharing a post on your Instagram story is easier than pushing a VW Beetle around the quad, but at the end of the day, the real goal is to raise awareness and donations for the SickKids Foundation.”
RESS donated $1 for every like and share of its Instagram post in 24 hours. RESS pledged to donate up to $5,000.
Additional donations were made online and through merchandise sales at RESS’ online store.
Basile said according to RESS’ records, donations have increased since this event was moved online. He believes having the ability to promote its donation portal alongside its post has increased traffic and donations.
Chris Hadfield, former astronaut, congratulated RESS on raising $5,000 through Push the Post. Hadfield said this donation is great because it will help to fund groundbreaking research and innovation in children’s health care across Canada.
Basile said Ryerson and the Ontario government will have to decide if the event can be held in-person in 2022, but he is optimistic.
“From many points on campus, you can see the SickKids research building,” he said. “For RESS, this is a constant reminder and symbol that our donations are going to the right cause.”
