MBA students at the Odette School of Business organized the Hats On for Healthcare bake sale on Feb. 12, where their collaborative efforts helped raise over $4,000 for the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation. (ANGELA KHARBOUTLI/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
A team of MBA students from the Odette School of Business raised more than $4,000 for the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation at a Valentine’s Day bake sale on Feb. 12, putting their business skills to work for a cause close to home.
Leading the group was MBA student Tara Davidovic, who guided the project from its early planning stages through to its completion.
The Feb. 12 bake sale, held in the Odette building lobby, raised more than $4,000 in support of the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation. The total includes a matching contribution of up to $1,500 from the University of Windsor Alumni Association.
The Hats On for Healthcare campaign, launched in 2010, funds urgent hospital needs in the Windsor-Essex region. The Odette students built this year’s sale around a Valentine’s Day theme and began preparations in January to ensure they could secure donations and maximize their contribution.
Davidovic, vice-president of marketing for the Odette MBA Society, oversaw promotional strategy, managed logistics and coordinated the donation schedule. The strong turnout from students, faculty and staff reflected the culture of community within the program.
“Seeing the Odette community come together for a local cause really highlights the spirit of our cohort,” Davidovic said.
She worked alongside fellow MBA students Ben Stamatovski, Martin Stavroski, Andreya Lafontaine and Ally Dimu, who collectively handled donor recruitment, hospital liaison, bakery pickups, sales and day-of logistics from setup through closing.
Popular sweets included cupcakes from Staci Bakes, date bites from Nuts4Dates and chocolate-covered strawberries and pretzels prepared by Ronak Doowd, the business school’s career and employer relations advisor, which sold out within the first two hours.
“These moments remind us why we’re here — not just to build business skills, but to make a meaningful difference,” Davidovic said.
With the bake sale complete, the Odette MBA Society is now turning its attention to planning the annual Steps for Sue Walkathon and other philanthropic initiatives scheduled for later this semester.