Coffee beans and bowling balls helped Western students and alumni raise more than $5,000 for three Bellingham nonprofit charities at the second annual Whatcom Young Professionals (WYPs) Buzz-Off on July 27 at Park Bowl.

The event was dubbed “Buzz-Off” after the WYPs’ Morning Buzz meetings that take place at three different Starbucks locations around town. WYPs members convene at the downtown Bellingham, Bakerview or Barkley Village Starbucks once a week. The idea is that young professionals can meet up to get both the latest business buzz and caffeine buzz at the same time.

Money raised from the event went to the Bellingham Food Bank; Lydia Place, a transitional housing organization for women and children; and Big Brothers Big Sisters, which provides support to children in Whatcom County.

WYPs hosted the event to support local community charities and present a family-fun environment, said Jodie Beatty, co-founder of WYPs.

Beatty, who graduated from Western in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in business finance, formed WYPs two years ago with former associate Jessica McCaslim. She said they wanted to create a venue for younger business professionals to get to know each other in a comfortable, social environment.

Brian Beatty, Beatty’s husband and a Western alumnus, described WYPs as a hipper, younger version of the chamber of commerce. Members are either within the first five years of their business endeavors or between the ages of 21 and 42.

“If you’re interested in entrepreneurship or networking, this seems like it would be a great group to get involved with,” said Western junior Lindsay Fisher, a part of the business program at Western. “Especially for business students after graduation.

Fisher, who was there representing the Sehome Starbucks team, helped with the children and family bowling that was also provided for the night.

“I think it’s really cool that Starbucks tries to be involved in this,” Fisher said. “And as a business student, I find stuff like this even more important.”

The night’s main event was a three-way tournament between the different Morning Buzz teams. While the teams bowled, members of the WYPs and spectators were encouraged to donate money to their favorite charity that each team represented.

Western graduate Brian Beatty said WYPs members develop loyalties to the Starbucks’ around town and that’s how the teams were formed.

Luna, who is also a part of the Chamber of Commerce, said he joined WYPs because he thought it was a great way to help business owners communicate and get to know each other better.

Western senior Nicole Duncan, a business marketing major, also volunteered for the event. She helped with the children and family bowling lanes and did a little networking for herself. She said Western needs more opportunities like this for serious business students.

“I really wish I would have known about this organization sooner,” Duncan said. “Networking can be so hard on your own sometimes.”

Be first to comment on this article

Only registered users can post comments.
Please login or register.