Have your cupcake and eat it too

Most of the time, indulging in a large quantity of cupcakes results only in consuming empty calories, but that won't be the case from Nov. 1-8 when an organization called She's the First holds a Tie-Dye Cupcake Bake-Off.

The event will take place nationwide. The University of Northern Iowa branch will participate Nov. 1-2, selling cupcakes in Maucker Union for $1 each.

She's the First is a nonprofit group that sponsors young girls' education in the developing world, helping them be the first in their families to graduate high school. Tehrene Firman, president of the UNI branch, says she has always loved helping others and doing nonprofit work. So when the founder of the organization, Tammy Tibbetts, contacted her, Firman immediately fell in love with the organization and wanted to bring what was primarily an East-Coast-based organization to the Midwest.

"Once I saw what She's the First was all about, I wanted to do anything I could to give girls in the developing world the opportunities we've had growing up here in the United States," Firman said. "It's just great knowing that the efforts we're putting in and the money we're raising here is changing a girl's life clear across the globe, enabling her to achieve her dreams just like every single one of us."

She's the First UNI will be baking the cupcakes and watching movies at Firman's off-campus home on Oct. 31, which is the night before the bake sale in the Union will take place.

"It's going to be a great time to make new friends and eat the most delicious cupcakes in the world, all while supporting a great cause," said Firman.

Anyone interested in being a part of the organization or the November bake-off can contact firmant@uni.edu and find "She's the First*{UNI}" on Facebook and @STF_UNI on Twitter.