|
|
| May 2006
|
ALUMNI NEWS |
|||
|
Amidst its usual line-up of sporting events, happy hours, cultural events, and intramurals, the Young Alumni Chapter added a community service project to its roster of spring activities this year. The AU Alumni and Friends Team volunteered with dozens more friends and helpers on April 29 to create better schools and futures for students in the District of Columbia through the Hands on D.C. volunteer project. The group met at Smothers Elementary in northeast D.C. and divided into smaller groups to tackle various projects throughout the school. In just six hours, the group repainted two hallways, the school library, and a United States map on the playground. The volunteers also made improvements to the school’s landscaping. With such a large group, the efforts of the AU Alumni and Friends Team made a huge impact at the site. By the end of the afternoon, the once cracked, yellow walls of the second- and third-floor hallways, as well as the school library, had been repainted a fresh, light pink. The exterior also looked considerably different with a bright, colorful United States map marking the playground and new boundary lines on the kickball field and track. Eric Buesing, KSB/BSBA ‘00, vice president of the YAC Executive Board, was impressed with the outcome of their efforts. “It’s amazing to see what can be accomplished by a dedicated group in just one afternoon. This was a very rewarding experience.” While AU volunteers were busy at Smothers, hundreds of other volunteers were also working that day at other public schools in D.C. Founded in 1995, Hands on D.C. was designed as a one-day work-a-thon in which all volunteers would commit to work on one designated day at various D.C. schools, resulting in improved learning environments for all the schools and their students. Since its inception, Hands on D.C. has engaged more than 19,000 volunteers from church groups, government agencies, and local colleges and universities. With funds raised from the volunteers, local businesses, and nonprofit organizations, more than $400,000 has been collected to help local students pay for further education. Nearly 2,200 volunteers participated in 2006, completing more than 350 projects at 33 D.C. public schools. The volunteers raised more than $13,000 in scholarship pledges. “Supporting the local community is an important focus of the AU YAC Board,” says Buesing. “We had a great day at Smothers Elementary. I look forward to participating with Hands on D.C. again in the future.” -Tara
Sherwin |
|||
