If youve ever wanted to test drive a Cadillac CTS Coupe or a Chevy Camaro without the added pressure of a pushy salesperson, Kwantlens Richmond campus is the place to do it Wednesday (March 20).
KPU Builds, a student-led, non-profit group, has partnered with Dueck GM to fundraise for an upcoming trip to Fiji with Habitat for Humanity. For every person who takes one of the five cars for a free test drive, Dueck GM will donate $25.
Wed heard that [Dueck GM] hosts local fundraising initiatives and thought this would allow us to get a lot of students and the community engaged, said KPU Builds project team leader Iman Ghahremani.
Car enthusiasts have the option of taking a Cadillac CTS Coupe, a Chevy Camaro, a Chevy Volt, a Cadillac ATS or a Buick Encore for a spin between 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the Richmond campus.
KPU Builds was formed early this year after Ghahremani was inspired by a trip to Ghana.
Ive always had a passion for seeing the world in a global context, said the 27-year-old who was born in Iran and now lives in Richmond. We all have a duty to give back globally when we have the ability to do so.
Starting a graduate degree in international development this fall, Ghahremani thought creating KPU Builds would be a good way to end his final year at Kwantlen and allow some students to get some hands-on experience.
About 200 students applied for the group and 17 were selected. Together, they represent all four campuses and all faculties at the university.
To date, KPU Builds has raised $27,000 through fundraising over the past two months and plans to hold a gala dinner and a silent auction before the 10-day trip in May.
They hope to raise a little over $50,000, with a portion of the money going towards local Habitat for Humanity initiatives.
Once in Fiji, the group will build a community of 28 homes, while developing a self-governing and sustainable way of life for the community.
Theyll be accompanied by six faculty members and administrators and will produce several blog posts about the experience as well as a short documentary about the trip.
For more information, visit www.kpubuilds.com.
