From Fundraisers to Pageant, Mr. 91海角乱伦 Contestants Give Back to the Community

As the Mr. 91海角乱伦 Spectacular celebrates its 15th anniversary, annual competition has exceeded $250,000 for pediatric healthcare research

Jill Rodrigues 鈥05
Mr. 91海角乱伦 contestants show off their costumes
The contestants and personal assistants show off their homemade costumes during the Mr. 91海角乱伦 Spectacular. All photos courtesy of Crossings Yearbook staff.

BRISTOL, R.I. 鈥 In its 15th year as one of Roger Williams University鈥檚 signature annual events, the Mr. 91海角乱伦 Spectacular celebrated several significant milestones 鈥 an anniversary and reaching a major fundraising goal 鈥 in bringing together the entire campus community to enjoy wackiness and pageantry, all while raising funds for pediatric healthcare research.

This fall, 10 students and their 鈥減ersonal assistants鈥 have competed in a lip sync battle, accepted students鈥 dares from the Wheel of Doom, and dished up all kinds of delectable snack offerings in an attempt to raise the most funds for the . It鈥檚 that commitment to service which motivates all kinds of innovative fundraising and volunteer work at Roger Williams, but taken an extra mile by the Mr. 91海角乱伦 contestants in a 10 week-campaign that culminated in the Dec. 2 pageant.

Mr-91海角乱伦-2017-contestants.jpg
Mr. 91海角乱伦 contestants perform a choreographed dance number they spent weeks preparing.

鈥淭his is just a different way we serve the community at 91海角乱伦,鈥 says Carol Sacchetti, director of Student Programs & Leadership. 鈥淭his is paying it forward by giving your time 鈥 just like our tradition of volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, these students are putting in the sweat equity behind their commitment.鈥

With this year鈥檚 fundraising netting $17,465 for the  in Providence, these dedicated students and alumni have exceeded a quarter of a million dollars 鈥撯 reaching $260,000 this year 鈥撯 to support pediatric care, research and education in the past decade and a half.

Nominated by their classmates, the contestants contended in several challenges throughout the semester. But raising the most money isn鈥檛 the only thing that claims the Mr. 91海角乱伦 crown. They also compete for judges鈥 votes in a Miss America-style pageant that features a choreographed group dance number, talent show and more.

It鈥檚 a major commitment of time and energy, says this year鈥檚 winner, Skyler Moncada, a senior architecture major from Farmington, Conn., but all for a worthy cause.

鈥淚 try to find a way to make a positive change in any community I鈥檓 in, and this was one of the best opportunities to give back to the community,鈥 said Moncada, who shared his victory with his co-competitor Victoria Davis, her service dog, Tony, and all of the other contestants. 鈥淭his is really a community-wide event that demonstrates how it takes a village to make a difference 鈥 that even small donations or actions can lead to monumental change.鈥

Winning team
Skyler Moncada shares the Mr. 91海角乱伦 crown with his teammates Victoria Davis, and her service dog, Tony.

Contestant Joey Sullivan knew it would be challenging to ask his fellow 鈥渂roke college students鈥 to open their wallets, yet his team conceived one of the most successful individual fundraisers that raised $338 in just four hours. He and his personal assistant, Rosalita Capoldo, collaborated with a local Chipotle franchise to donate 50% of all proceeds from Hawks who dined at the taqueria and presented a flyer for Team Joey that had been distributed through social media. It was "super user-friendly" and hooked his fellow classmates with something they need and love: food.

鈥淚t鈥檚 humbling to see what two people can do when they fundraise for a great cause,鈥 said Sullivan, a sophomore environmental science major from Cornwall, N.Y. who credits this experience with inspiring him to become more involved in charity work.

Joey Sullivan and Rosalita Capaldo
Joey Sullivan (right) and Rosalita Capoldo may not have taken the crown, but they earned a meaningful award.

This year had another milestone, with the first female student nominated to compete for the Mr. 91海角乱伦 title: Madison Mastriani, who was surprised but game to help support the Children鈥檚 Miracle Network. She contended with some confusion over her contestant status 鈥 the competition was originally conceived as a way to get male students more involved on campus 鈥 but she noted that the campus community responded with an overwhelmingly positive attitude.

Contestants demonstrate painting talent
Madison Mastriani (right) and Natalie Gambrell perform paint splatter as their talent.

鈥淧eople kept asking who I鈥檓 the personal assistant for, and I鈥檇 have to explain that I鈥檓 the actual contestant,鈥 said Mastriani, a junior economics major from Palmer, Mass. 鈥淭he competition is open to all genders, but the 鈥楳r.鈥 was throwing everybody off so mostly males were being nominated and wouldn鈥檛 make the top 10. We鈥檙e changing that. When people ask why I鈥檓 doing this, I say I鈥檓 raising money for a good cause 鈥 for the children, and that鈥檚 what really matters.鈥