'Oddlympics'
One of the charitable projects OCBA Landscape Architects, a Michigan-based design firm, has been involved in is a fun event to raise money for Kalamazoo Friends of Recreation (KFOR). The team has worked as an organizer, sponsor, and game host of an annual gathering called Oddlympics that is focused on company team building and networking with fellow community supporters.

 
An afternoon is spent at the local ballpark with an array of wacky games played by corporate teams, kicked off by an intensive round of rock, paper, scissors by all 100+ attendees. Food and beverages are provided, and the games are challenging in a fun and funny way, as the photos depict. The event was originally billed as "games you can play without putting your beer down," but the team revised the tagline once they focused all fundraising efforts on KFOR, which raises money to fund scholarships for kids in the community to attend summer programs offered by the Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation Department.
Event coordinators included the Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation Department and Rotary Club of Kalamazoo. Much of the design team's role has included being a key organizer, paid sponsor, and game planner. The game they arranged last year was a relay race involving rubber balls, pool noodles, and giant Mickey Mouse gloves. They have encouraged several of the play equipment vendors that work with the Parks Department to get involved, and have seen an increase in participation and dollars raised each of the three years they have held the event.
One of the most rewarding comments overheard at the 2023 Oddlympics was "it's so nice to be at a fundraiser that everyone can participate in and have fun."

Kalamazoo River Clean-Up Event
A recent charitable event that OCBA sponsored and helped organize was the inaugural Kalamazoo River Clean-Up held on April 20th to celebrate Earth Day. The non-profit Michigan Waterways Stewards partnered with the Rotary Club of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation Department, and numerous other agencies, businesses, and community partners to host a river clean-up both along the shoreline and in the river.
The event was held at a city park through which both the Kalamazoo River and Kalamazoo River Valley Trail traverse, so as people arrived and completed their waiver forms they were directed to where they should go along the trail or river, if they came with watercraft. Trash pickers and bags were donated, along with burgers, brats, chips, salads, and drinks free to all who attended. Afterward, one of the local bars offered free pizza to anyone who took part in the event.
Several hundred people participated and over 7,000 lbs. of trash were collected, despite it being a very cold and windy day.
Both projects were held at Mayors' Riverfront Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan.