Yale SOM Internship Fund Raises More Than $44,000

This month’s Internship Fund Auction raised the highest amount for the annual event in eight years and the second-most in its three decade history. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni bid more than $44,000 on a variety of items, second only to the $46,000 collected in 2002. Among the items going for the highest amount were access to a summer apartment rental in New York City, a seven night vacation in St. John, and margaritas with Dean Sharon Oster.

The auction, which dates to 1979, is one of SOM’s signature events. Each year organizers pick a theme — last year’s was "That ’70s Fun" — and students dress up accordingly. This year the theme was SOMonopoly, a play of the Monopoly board game, complete with students dressed in tuxedos with top hats and monocles. Once again, Oster acted as the master of ceremonies.

The Internship Fund exists to help students afford summer internships in the nonprofit sector, which often pay little to no salary. The fund is the first of its kind among business schools in the nation and has been widely emulated by other schools. This year, applications for funding have nearly tripled and the auction remains crucial to the Internship Fund reaching its goal. Carolyn McLean '09, an Internship Fund co-chair, said the organization expects to help up to 50 students, about double last year’s number. She said fundraising for the Internship Fund has been up throughout the year. "People know we’re in great need of support and they stepped up," she said. "We’re absolutely thrilled with how generous everyone has been."