A trio of students from the University of Texas at Austin Win the IGNITE Challenge

A team of students from the University of Texas at Austin, named Female Logic win the IGNITE Challenge, a collegiate cause innovation competition focused on innovating ideas that tackle challenges in fundraising.

Teams of students from the University of Utah, The Ohio State University, University of Texas at Austin, and Vanderbilt University competed to produce the next generation of fundraising concepts that might help tackle challenges around fundraising as changes in technology and cultural shifts continue to impact donation behaviors.

One team from each school presented their fundraising idea during #ChildrensHospitalsWeek to a panel of judges to win the IGNITE Challenge.

IGNITE winners, Natalie Weston, Alexandra Mulconnery and Sofia Aranha from the University of Texas at Austin presented the Hometown Heroes idea.

The Baker Family Foundation, long-time supporters of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals sponsored the IGNITE Challenge to help support CMN Hospitals innovation efforts in tackling those challenges.

“We believe in the extraordinary work CMN Hospitals extends each day, and we also see how creative fundraising efforts are needed to continue this good work,” said Ryan Baker, president of The Baker Family Foundation. “Together we put forth a plan to secure $15 million in new fundraising dollars and believe savvy college entrepreneurs can help us reach this goal. IGNITE allows students to use the creative side of their brains to deliver transformational results. My hope is that students will gain both insight and connections into the world of entrepreneurship and philanthropy.”