Press Releases
Marywood University School of Architecture, Arthur's Acres Animal Sanctuary, and University Gear Shop Join Forces for a Transformative Partnership
Drexel Hill, PA, – September 28, 2023
Marywood University School of Architecture (MUSOA), a leading institution in architectural education, Arthur's Acres Animal Sanctuary (Arthur’s Acres), a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal sanctuary focused on rescue, rehabilitation, and education and University Gear Shop (UGS), an expert in innovative campus store solutions, brand growth and marketing are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking three-way partnership to enhance the sanctuary's facilities to increase capacity for rescue, create an all-season center for animal rehabilitation, and create a multi-purpose space for education.
MUSOA is renowned for its commitment to educating a new generation of architects who engage with the world passionately and intelligently. “Students strive to enrich lives and to inspire constructive change in the world. Their dedication for compassionate architecture serves as an influence for good in the lives of others and the world we inhabit, this aligns perfectly with the vision of Arthur’s Acres to serve and educate,” said Maria MacDonald, Founding Faculty of MUSOA. Third-year students in the program will be embarking on a semester-long project to help re-envision and expand the rehabilitation, enrichment, educational, and animal living spaces at Arthur’s Acres.
“Arthur’s Acres is dedicated to rescuing animals that have been abused, exploited, or discarded. We rehabilitate the animals we care for through patience, love, and respect,” noted Todd Friedman, Executive Director and founder of the Parksville, NY-based animal sanctuary. Friedman added, “Given our commitment to educating individuals on leading cruelty-free lives through everyday choices and our focus on lessening environmental impact, we couldn’t be happier to be working with the Marywood students on this project. Through this partnership, the students will play a pivotal role in helping us reimagine, redesign, and expand the sanctuary's original barn and we will play a positive role in their education.
Students will not only gain experience by working with a real-world client, but we will also emphasize the importance of choosing cruelty-free and environmentally friendly options that will hopefully impact decisions they will make throughout their careers.” At the end of the semester, 32 students will deliver a comprehensive multi-phase plan to enhance the existing facilities and create a state-of-the-art barn tailored to animals with special needs.
UGS, with its expertise in brand growth and marketing, is set to be an invaluable partner in this venture. “Our goal is to leverage our expertise in marketing, social media, and technology to share the compelling story of Arthur's Acres and MUSOA’s campaign,” shared William Boney, Executive Vice President of UGS. UGS aims to raise awareness and support for this transformative initiative by driving greater engagement for both organizations.
This partnership is not only a testament to the commitment of these organizations to drive positive impact in their communities but also an exemplar of collaboration across different sectors, demonstrating the power of synergy in creating meaningful change.
In the coming months, the three partners will embark on this exciting journey of transformation. You can follow our journey through a young pig named Mikey on the Arthur’s Acres YouTube channel (@arthursacres). Mikey is one of Arthur’s Acres residents and is symbolically “going to college” to provide a pig’s perspective to the students of MUSOA as they design the Arthur’s Acres Barn. The partners are delighted the world will witness the positive impact that can be achieved when academia, non-profit organizations, and commercial services unite for a shared compassionate purpose.
About Marywood University School of Architecture:
Marywood University School of Architecture is committed to educating a new generation of architects and interior architects who engage the world passionately and intelligently. With a rigorous studio-based curriculum and a focus on critical thinking and collaboration, Marywood prepares students to excel in the field of architecture.
About Arthur's Acres Animal Sanctuary:
Arthur's Acres Animal Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit sanctuary located in Parksville, New York. Founded by Todd Friedman after a walk on the property uncovered a baby pig, Arthur's Acres Animal Sanctuary is now five years old (as is the pig whom he named Arthur). To learn more about the work being done at Arthur's Acres Animal Sanctuary, visit the arthursacresanimalsanctuary.org website or social media at @arthursacres on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About University Gear Shop:
University Gear Shop is a leading service provider in higher education market, providing innovative campus store solutions that drive brand growth and awareness. Through innovative retail spaces. marketing, social media, pop-up events, technology, and e-commerce solutions, UGS works with national collegiate institutions to promote their brand and engage with their target audiences effectively.
University Gear Shop Partners with 15 Campuses for Campus Store Services
University Gear Shop (UGS) is a global distribution network specializing in driving brand growth and awareness through imprinted merchandise and apparel as well as marketing, technology, and e-commerce solutions.
Drexel Hill, PA.
University Gear Shop, a service provider in the higher education market, is pleased to announce new partnerships with 15 higher education institutions across the country to operate their e-commerce and campus stores. These key partnerships began May 2023, and are assisting colleges and universities in driving brand growth and awareness through imprinted merchandise and apparel as well as marketing, technology, and e-commerce solutions.
University Gear Shop (UGS) is a global distribution network specializing in driving brand growth and awareness through imprinted merchandise and apparel as well as marketing, technology, and e-commerce solutions.
UGS has been awarded agreements with 15 colleges and universities across the country to provide campus stores with a deep inventory of branded merchandise and apparel, as well as ecommerce, marketing resources, and technology tools. The partnerships will drive community involvement for each institution, while elevating the student experience with access to high-quality, on-trend items that foster school spirit in the community and on campus at the following campuses:
Stony Brook University – Stony Brook, NY
Vermont State University – Castleton, VT
Abilene Christian University – Abilene, TX
St. John Fisher University – Rochester, NY
Oakland University – Rochester, MI
Lasell University – Auburndale, MA
Bakersfield College – Bakersfield, CA
Porterville College – Porterville, CA
Cerro Coso Community College – Ridgecrest, CA
Lake Tahoe Community College – Lake Tahoe, CA
Capital University – Bexley, OH
Albright College – Reading, PA
Manchester University – North Manchester, IN
Salus University – Elkins Park, PA
South Arkansas College – El Dorado, AR.
“After being in higher education retail for over 30 years, I’ve observed a disconnect between the institution and the intentional marketing of its brand through branded merchandise,” said Bill Boney, Executive Vice President of Retail Operations for UGS. “One comment I hear time and time again is, ‘I don’t see our students wearing our gear.’ That’s free advertising for the institution when the students wear the brand. And that’s the ‘why’ behind University Gear Shop. We’re passionate about building our clients’ brand with high-quality branded merchandise while staying sensitive to price and doing so with world-class customer service. UGS delivers an immediate impact on each campus it serves and sustains that impact year over year through collaboration with institutional stakeholders.”
Launched in early 2021, UGS provides colleges and universities with a deep inventory of branded merchandise and apparel, as well as marketing resources and technology tools. Partnerships with UGS drive revenue for colleges and universities while elevating the student experience with access to high-quality, on-trend items that foster school spirit and on campus community.
About University Gear Shop (UGS)
UGS is a trusted global distribution network, specializing in driving brand growth and awareness through imprinted merchandise and apparel through marketing, social media, pop-up events, technology, and e-commerce solutions. UGS focuses on providing a deep catalog of on-trend, high-quality products including top brand names, online stores with preloaded product databases, campus integration with pop-up shopping experiences, and marketing expertise designed to drive engagement among students and campus groups. For more information about UGS, please visit www.universitygearshop.com.
Hood College Selects University Gear Shop as Campus Store Solution
FREDERICK, MD, December 5, 2022 – Hood College has announced that it has entered a partnership with University Gear Shop (UGS) for the operation of its campus store. The partnership will begin in January 2023 and will assist Hood College in driving branded merchandise to the current school community, alumnus, faculty & staff plus more.
The official Hood College campus gear shop will offer a wide variety of branded merchandise and apparel, as well as an established presence on campus around student engagement. The partnership will drive community involvement for the college while elevating the student experience with access to high-quality, on-trend items that foster school spirit in the community and on campus. Rowela Lascolette, Director of Business Services, said, “We are very excited to partner with UGS. We believe that the services that UGS provides will meet the needs of our students, faculty, staff and campus community. We cannot wait to bring the Hood College Gear Shop to campus.”
Bill Boney, VP of Retail Operations for UGS, said, “We are honored to be invited into this amazing institution. Hood College’s historic and rich culture makes us very excited to assist in growing their brand. We will work very hard for all the stakeholders of Hood College and deliver a customer experience nothing short of world-class. Our deep selection of product assortment will allow Hood College and its constituents to experience a wide variety of choices in branded merchandise and products. We will make it our intention every day, to not only provide on-trend branded merchandise but also to provide support to Hood College in their mission to provide an education that empowers students to use their hearts, minds, and hands to meet personal, professional, and global challenges and to lead purposeful lives of responsibility, leadership, service, and civic engagement. We are excited to partner with Hood College and look forward to serving the students, faculty, staff, and administration.”
About Hood College
Founded in 1893 in Frederick, Maryland, Hood College is a coeducational, independent, liberal arts college. Hood offers 30+ bachelor’s degrees, 25 concentrations, 45+ minors, and pre-professional preparation in medicine, veterinary science, dentistry and law. With small class sizes, students receive individual attention from supportive faculty. The College’s proximity to Washington, D.C., Baltimore and the I-270 technology corridor gives students access to countless internships and research opportunities. Hood’s Graduate School serves the needs of Frederick and surrounding regions with 19 master’s degrees, two doctorates and 11 graduate certificate programs. The graduate programs provide leading-edge content in business, STEM, the humanities and education. For more information about Hood College, please visit www.hood.edu.
About University Gear Shop (UGS)
UGS is a trusted global distribution network, specializing in driving branded merchandise and apparel sales at colleges and universities through marketing, social media, events, technology, and e-commerce solutions. UGS focuses on providing a deep catalog of on-trend, high-quality products including top brand names, online stores with preloaded product databases, campus integration with pop-up shopping experiences, and marketing expertise designed to drive engagement among students and campus groups. For more information about UGS, please visit www.universitygearshop.com.