October is the month that most of the university focuses on the Good Neighbors Campaign. But at the USC Marshall School of Business, fund-raising efforts continue year-round.

The USC Marshall effort, using innovative projects dreamed up by students, is breaking new ground as it reaches out to alumni and students as well as faculty and staff.

USC Marshall, in addition to raising more than $65,000 last year through faculty and staff pledges, raised another $35,000 through its program called Marshall Good Neighbors.

“We’re fortunate at USC Marshall to have some wonderfully caring and creative people who understand how important the Good Neighbors Campaign is for the university and for those who live and work around us,” said USC Marshall Dean James G. Ellis. “Led by Greg Patton and Monica Farrell, they’ve mixed that creativity with an entrepreneurial mindset to come up with some really fun and interesting concepts that have been very successful.”

Faculty campaign leader Greg Patton, an assistant professor of clinical management communication at USC Marshall, said, “The program sells itself. If you can get people to read where the grant money goes, they will give. At USC, faculty, staff and students want to engage in the community.”

Said Farrell, assistant director of MBA admissions, “This is one thing we can all bond over. Different academic programs and clubs at Marshall choose what works for them, and it ends up tightening the bonds of our academic community.”

A fantasy pro football league, golf, poker and basketball tournaments, a tailgate party with USC football coach Pete Carroll and art auctions were a few of the original ideas that have made USC Marshall one of the most generous schools on campus.

Alums were invited to be a part of all events, and many responded. They paid money to join the online pro football league (with the winnings going to the campaign), participated in the golf tournament held in Orange County and flocked to a successful football tailgate “meet and greet” before a weekend practice in November.

The tailgate, co-hosted by Trojan Football, was a collaboration with Junior Achievement. Busloads of elementary school children, many of whom are participants in Good Neighbors Campaign projects, attended the event.

Future plans include starting a job and college shadow day program matching neighborhood students with USC Marshall students and alums.

Farrell and Patton are two of the 97 campaign leaders who volunteer their time to organize and carry out the Good Neighbors Campaign.

“The Marshall School has taken its campaign to a new level by reaching beyond faculty and staff to students, alumni and friends,” said Carolina Castillo, who as director of USC external relations manages the campaign university-wide.

“Its leaders have the ability to spread the message of a Tradition of Giving to their colleagues in a personal and meaningful way. The Good Neighbors Campaign has reached an amazing milestone this year which will allow us to touch many lives thanks to these extraordinary efforts.”