School of Business

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE)

St. Bonaventure SIFE video shown at gathering of international SIFE representatives 

 

Student's video used by SIFE USA President Donna Patterson to demonstrate how an American-based SIFE team can have a global impact. 
 
Click triangle on video to start; full-screen viewing option available on menu bar. 
  

 

St. Bonaventure SIFE team is a national leader

With more than 100 members, SBU SIFE is the largest student service organization on campus. SIFE, which is open to students from all majors, focuses on economic empowerment and education.


SIFE runs one of the largest service trips in the world and its own economic development zone in the Bahamas.


SBU SIFE ranks in the top 5 percent of SIFE teams nationwide.

 

The Ways SIFE Makes a Difference in People's Lives 

Bahamas Entrepreneurial Service Trip (BEST)

SIFE has its own economic development zone in the Bahamas.Last year, 52 SBU students and faculty spent 10 days on the island of Grand Bahama on the fourth annual service trip to the area. While there we:

  • Worked in nine schools teaching 1,800 students the essentials of entrepreneurship, global economics, financial literacy and values
  • Ran three after-school programs focusing on technology
  • Conducted evening computer classes for working adults
  • Installed two computer labs
  • Painted a whole school
  • Assisted in rehabbing a building into a state-of-the-art distance education/recreation center that is the center of the Pinder’s Point Economic Development Zone

embrace it Africa

A fundraising campaign that is a year-round effort designed to encourage others to embrace the people, community and problems of Bethlehem, Uganda. By giving out micro-loans from their financial agency, embrace it Africa is able to help boost business throughout the community.  Visit embrace it Africa's website  

 

Community Blood Bank Social Entrepreneurship Challenge

We partner with Community Blood Bank to run a marketing plan competition targeting at 22 high schools in Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. Our members provide leadership training, materials and ongoing support. 


Each school gets to run a community based blood drive and is provided with a radio and print advertisement budget. The high school students then present their marketing plans at the end of the year for cash prizes.

 

VITA Tax Services

We partner with the Bonaventure Accounting Association to increase the number of low-income working adults who partake in free income tax preparation. SIFE members handle the advertising as well as conduct market research to increase the numbers of people participating.

 

Advisers

Todd Palmer, Terry Moran, Mike Kasperski, Joe Coate, Pauline Hoffman, Steve Andrianoff, Julie Hall, Peggy Burke,  Leslie Chambers

Contact: SIFE@sbu.edu 

 

Meeting Schedule

SIFE meets weekly in Dresser Auditorium of the Murphy Building