Miami Student

Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: Campus

Students will have the opportunity to bid on four seats in Blasi's private box or the opportunity to be a bench coach at a hockey game.

Coaching the Miami University hockey team to No. 1 in the CCHA may seem time consuming, but coach Enrico Blasi still finds time to be an active member of his community.

Blasi has organized an online auction to start Dec. 8 to raise money for the Oxford branch of the United Way.

As the co-chairman for Oxford United Way's 2008 campaign drive, Blasi said he saw this as a chance to help the local community.

"This is a good way to not only donate our money, but to showcase Miami while generating money for United Way," Blasi said. "My wife and I are very much involved with the community and we think it is important to give back."

The items up for bid include four seats in Blasi's private box for the Miami vs. Northern Michigan University game Feb. 20, and an opportunity to be a bench coach at the Miami vs. Bowling Green game Jan. 30.

Blasi said he chose the items based on the reactions from students in previous give-a-ways and fundraisers.

"These are things we've given away in the past for fundraisers that students seem to enjoy," Blasi said. "People like a chance at having the best seats in the house."

Maureen Kranbuhl, executive director of the Oxford branch of United Way, agreed and said the organization is pleased to have the support of Miami and Blasi.

"We're really excited," Kranbuhl said. "This is the first time we've had anything like this on eBay."

Proceeds from the auction will be allocated to United Way's 23 beneficiary agencies in the Oxford area, according to Kranbuhl. These beneficiary agencies include Big Brothers Big Sisters, Red Cross and Catholic Social Services.

"We provide leadership and funding to our community … primarily the Talawanda School District," Kranbuhl said. "We are a source of funding for these agencies to perform various projects in the community."

The auction is also part of United Way's fall campaign drive.

According to Kranbuhl, one in four Oxford residents receive services from the beneficiary agencies of United Way.

According to Blasi, the United Way is working closely with students now and in the future to create a stronger presence on Miami's campus, starting with the opportunity for students to bid on eBay.com during the auction.

The auction will begin on eBay at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and run through 8:30 p.m. Dec. 11. A link to the eBay auction Web site will be available beginning Dec. 8 at www.uwoxford.org.

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