Although it only started as a simple assignment for a business class, Lance Strahl’s (MSB ’13) plan to raise money for injured servicemen and -women has escalated into a $10,000 fundraiser carnival.

Strahl’s fundraiser, which is set to be held on Copley Lawn on Nov. 17, will feature live bands, rides and opportunities to donate to Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit that provides resources and aid to injured servicemen and -women,
Plans for the fundraiser began as part of a project for “Leadership,” a class taught by professor Brooks Holtom. Though the guidelines for the assignment were basic — create an impactful project for a nonprofit — Strahl said his project took on a life of its own.

“My idea with this was to do the biggest thing possible,” he said. “The scale of the project got a little bit bigger than I thought it would.”

The event was also inspired by Strahl’s personal connections to the issue.

“Every generation of my family going back to the Civil War has fought for our country, and some of them have come back great, [but] others have had problems,” he said. “I thought the best thing to do would be to help soldiers who had given their all.”

Strahl is in the process of recruiting Hoyas for Veterans, Zeta Psi Fraternity, the Georgetown Lecture Fund and student performers from professor Joseph McCarthy’s “Guild of Bands” class to contribute to the event.

“Right now we’re giving them logistical and managing support,” Vice Chair of External Affairs for GULF Anika Patel (SFS ’13) said. “Co-sponsoring depends on what financial assistance we give. … It’s early for us to say what our involvement will be.”
Though still in its planning stages, Strahl said that the project is going well.

“I thought I’d find some small way to help Wounded Warrior, and over the last three weeks it’s evolved,” Strahl said. “I’ve been very blessed that so many people have a heart for this.”