TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Dozens of Florida State University College of Business faculty, students and staff congregated on October 18, 2008 at Tom Brown Park to participate in the 2008 Big Bend Start! Heart Walk to benefit the American Heart Association (AHA).

The Heart Walk promotes healthy living and exercise as a way to prevent heart disease, the nation's No. 1 killer. This nationwide fundraising effort brings over one million people together in more than 450 events to raise funds to help save lives.

Whether they were walking for fun or in memory of a loved one, the FSU team members led the pack raising nearly $25,000 for the AHA. The College of Business' walkers raised more than $10,000 -- nearly half of the money raised by the entire university.

The College of Business' Heart Walk team included representatives from several organizations including: the Dean's Office, AKPsi, the Financial Management Association, the Dedman School of Hospitality, Beta Alpha Psi, the International Business Association, the Insurance Society, the National Hispanic Business Association, FSU Society for Human Resource Management/Entrepreneurial Boot Camp for Veterans, Delta Sigma Pi, Minority Business Students Association, and the National Association of Black Accountants.

"It was wonderful to see so many FSU students, faculty and staff come together for this cause," said Caryn L. Beck-Dudley, dean of the college. "The College of Business is proud to support the tireless efforts of the AHA in its goal to save lives."

To learn more about the AHA please visit http://www.americanheart.org/.

About the FSU College of Business

Founded in 1950, the FSU College of Business is one of the nation's youngest business schools, yet it has become one of the 10 largest in the United States. It is the second largest academic unit on FSU's campus with an enrollment of 6,107 students and boasts a distinguished full-time faculty of 114, including one Francis Eppes professor, eight eminent scholar chairs, three university-named professorships and 30 endowed professorships. For more information, please visit www.cob.fsu.edu.