Alumni Association chapters to boost communities nationwide

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.

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.

“One of the university’s aspirations is to leverage its geographic location, serving and partnering with the communities that surround it,” she said.

“The projects conducted by the alumni chapters will extend that geographic involvement nationwide.”

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.

ASU Cares Day projects include:

•    Atlanta – Food drive for Atlanta Community Food Bank

•    Austin – Donation inventory at Capital Area Food Bank

•    Chicago – Food drive at Cubby Bear

•    Denver – Painting, cleaning, trimming at Smith Renaissance School of the Arts

•    Kansas City – Habitat for Humanity project

•    Las Vegas – Run Away with Cirque du Soliel walk-a-thon and 1 Mile Fun Run

•    Los Angeles – beach clean up at Dockweiler Beach

•    Minneapolis – home improvement projects with Aeon Minnesota

•    Newport Beach – Beach clean up

•    Philadelphia – Home improvements with Ray of Hope Project

•    Pittsburgh – Assisting seniors with home safety and security as part of Pitssburgh CARES

•    San Diego – Beach clean up at Moonlight Beach

•    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

•    Tucson – Diaper drive at Udall Park

•    Washington, D. C. – Clean-up project at Magruder Park

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.

For more information on alumni involvement in March 21 ASU CARES-related events, visit www.asu.edu/alumni/rsvp/asucares.html.