Alumni Association chapters to boost communities nationwide
<p>Alumni chapters affiliated with the Arizona State University Alumni Association will strengthen communities across the United States on March 21, when they volunteer with local community-improvement events in conjunction with ASU CARES Day.</p><separator></separator><p>This will mark the first time the Alumni Association has spearheaded ASU CARES Day. The association’s intent is to produce a national day of civic involvement. Christine K. Wilkinson, president of the ASU Alumni Association, noted that the events had the potential to further one of ASU’s goals as a New American University—social embeddedness.</p><separator></separator><p>“One of the university’s aspirations is to leverage its geographic location, serving and partnering with the communities that surround it,” she said.</p><separator></separator><p>“The projects conducted by the alumni chapters will extend that geographic involvement nationwide.”</p><separator></separator><p>From coast to coast, Sun Devil alumni will participate in a broad array of projects – planned volunteer activities will range from beachfront clean-ups to assisting elderly homeowners weatherize their homes.</p><separator></separator><p>ASU Cares Day projects include:</p><separator></separator><p>• Atlanta – Food drive for Atlanta Community Food Bank</p><separator></separator><p>• Austin – Donation inventory at Capital Area Food Bank</p><separator></separator><p>• Chicago – Food drive at Cubby Bear</p><separator></separator><p>• Denver – Painting, cleaning, trimming at Smith Renaissance School of the Arts</p><separator></separator><p>• Kansas City – Habitat for Humanity project</p><separator></separator><p>• Las Vegas – Run Away with Cirque du Soliel walk-a-thon and 1 Mile Fun Run</p><separator></separator><p>• Los Angeles – beach clean up at Dockweiler Beach</p><separator></separator><p>• Minneapolis – home improvement projects with Aeon Minnesota</p><separator></separator><p>• Newport Beach – Beach clean up</p><separator></separator><p>• Philadelphia – Home improvements with Ray of Hope Project</p><separator></separator><p>• Pittsburgh – Assisting seniors with home safety and security as part of Pitssburgh CARES</p><separator></separator><p>• San Diego – Beach clean up at Moonlight Beach</p><separator></separator><p>• Tempe – Clean-up project at Hayden Butte, improvements at St. Vincent de Paul Society facility in El Mirage and book drive at Burton Barr Phoenix Library</p><separator></separator><p>• Tucson – Diaper drive at Udall Park</p><separator></separator><p>• Washington, D. C. – Clean-up project at Magruder Park</p><separator></separator><p>In Tempe, the Alumni Association will invite its local chapters and ASU alumni and staff living in the Valley of the Sun to participate in a special clean-up project at Hayden Butte, site of the university’s beloved “A” Mountain near its Tempe campus. Working with the City of Tempe Parks & Recreation Department, volunteers will assist with plant removal along the trail system on the mountain.</p><separator></separator><p>For more information on alumni involvement in March 21 ASU CARES-related events, visit <a href="http://www.asu.edu/alumni/rsvp/asucares.html">www.asu.edu/alumni/rsvp/a…;