“It makes you feel you can do something,” Suresh said, explaining that being part of the organization helped her become comfortable at MSU her freshman year.

Alumna and founder of the MSU chapter Shanice Akoto  said the idea for the Ohio-based non-profit was the brain child of her friend Madison Mikhail, organization CEO.

Akoto said Mikhail realized that people can switch on the TV or go to specific websites to learn more about news or sports, but that wasn’t the case when it came to learning more about charities and world needs.

MSU chapter President Mara Ohorodnik  said members of the chapter get together every semester to choose the world need and charity they are most passionate about. The charity has to extend to help people in another country.

Ohorodnik said the chapter hosts a big fundraising event every semester, and it donates all proceeds to the chapter’s chosen charity.

“That’s why they’re bigger events because we want to donate more money and kind of have a bigger impact,” she said.

This year, the chapter is preparing for a benefit concert in November  to raise money for the International Rescue Committee, an international organization helping refugees survive and rebuild their lives .

Suresh said it is pivotal for the e-board and the members to make sure that the charity they are donating to is reliable since they send them all the money they collect.

In the past, the chapter has donated money to Keep A Child Alive, a foundation providing help and support to children who are infected with AIDS and their families . They have also donated to Charity Water and were able to build a well in a village in Rwanda.

Ohorodnik said they usually rely on the charities present on the POINT’s website.

“If you go on the website there’s a world map, you can hover over the different continents and see which area you are most interested in,” Ohorodnik said.

By clicking on a specific country, people can find out more information about the country and which needs are most prevalent there. It then redirects them to a page with the top charities addressing those needs.

Akoto said the organization is in the process of rebranding. Other than changing the name of the organization from ONE LIFE to POINT, the non-profit is using new technology.

“We’re switching from having just a website to launching an interactive app,” she said.

Ohorodnik said the phone application will allow people to enter information about what non-profits they’ve donated to and what charity events they have been involved with. It would also connect them to reliable charities seeking volunteers.

Other than its main event every semester, POINT at MSU also organizes local volunteer opportunities that support the local community, including volunteering for the Greater Lansing Food Bank and area schools.

The MSU chapter will officially transition from being called ONE LIFE at MSU to POINT at MSU on Oct. 11.