Big ideas led to big returns at this year’s Independent Professional Project (IPP) presentations, where students from Red River College’s Creative Communications program raised nearly $30,000 for a range of worthy charities and causes.

CreComm’s IPP component consists of two full-credit courses in which second-year students are tasked with conceptualizing, planning, marketing and executing an independent project that falls under one of three categories: research, promotional or creative.

The projects themselves take a wide range of forms, including events, documentaries, promotional videos, websites, books and novellas, musical endeavors, and advertising, marketing and promotional campaigns.

Often, they include a fundraising component. This year’s beneficiaries included Siloam Mission, KidSport Winnipeg, the Manitoba Down Syndrome Society, Resource Assistance for Youth, the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief, The Wasichana Fund, the Margaret Pidlaski Scholarship Fund, and the Health Sciences Centre’s Adult Eating Disorders Program.

All told, the projects raised a total of $29,568 for the above-mentioned organizations.

Also notable: one of the projects — a 24-hour rock climbing event that raised funds for KidSport Winnipeg —  broke the Guinness World Record for fastest climb to the height equivalent of Mount Everest.

As well, a number of books written by students found their way to McNally Robinson Winnipeg’s local bestseller list.

Learn more about RRC’s Creative Communications program.

(Above: One of the acts on the lineup at Up All Night, a hip-hop benefit that raised $5,337 for Resource Assistance for Youth Inc.)