Stonehill Honors Nonprofit Organizations and Student Volunteers
May 03, 2011
On May 4th in Alumni Hall, Stonehill held its annual Celebration of Service Breakfast, which honors the nonprofit organizations that benefit the community while helping students gain meaningful volunteer experience.
For four consecutive years Stonehill has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the federal government's highest recognition for community service and civic engagement in colleges and universities.
During the 2009-10 school year, nearly 700 students volunteered through the Into the Streets Program, contributing over 18,000 combined hours of service. The student-run program is Stonehill's largest community service organization on campus.
Many students also gain valuable knowledge and experience by interning at the Center for Nonprofit Management. The Community Based Learning Office allows students to take classes with a strong service component and conduct community based research. The students' service benefits the community, and their coursework helps them to bring a more informed perspective to their service projects.
The Celebration of Service event acknowledged over 100 organizations that work with Stonehill. We've profiled some of them below:
Davis Commons
What They Do: Davis Commons is an affordable-housing complex in Brockton that offers residents services including community activities and an after-school center.
What Our Students Do to Help: Students from the Mediated Communication Theory class, a senior service-learning course, volunteer at Davis' Commons after-school center for three hours per week. They design their own curriculum that helps the students learn about violence in the media, reality TV, and depictions of gender. This helps adolescents become more aware of the images they consume every day.
Student Leader: Nicole Jaques '11
Yawkey House of Possibilities and Best Buddies
What They Do: The House of Possibilities provides programming and social activities for children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. They offer respite programs, where children can stay at the house during the day or overnight. In their living skills programs, people with disabilities can practice cooking, safety skills, and exercise.
Established in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization that facilitates one-on-one friendships and mentorships between volunteers and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They also help people with developmental disabilities find meaningful employment. House of Possibilities and Best Buddies Massachusetts have collaborated on fundraisers and events.
What Students Do to Help: Students are paired with buddies through the House of Possibilities (HOPe) and meet monthly to engage in various recreational and social activities. The Best Buddies program has grown to include over 50 volunteers this year and has been an extraordinary asset to HOPe and Stonehill College.
Student Leader: Alanna Melendez '13
My Brother's Keeper
What They Do: Located in Brockton, My Brother's Keeper is a faith-based nonprofit organization that delivers food, furniture, and other household items to people of all faiths and backgrounds. They do not require recipients to provide proof of their income, but help anyone who asks for assistance.
What Our Students Do to Help: Each year, over 100 Stonehill students volunteer at My Brother's Keeper, driving vans and delivering furniture.
Student Spotlight: Alex Ogozaly, an Accounting major with a minor in Healthcare, recently became the first student named to the board of directors at My Brother's Keeper. Ogozaly has made deliveries with My Brother's Keeper for two years. He is one of over 100 Stonehill students who volunteer at My Brother's Keeper each year.
In Fall 2010, Ogozaly interned in the Resource Room at the Center for Nonprofit Management, where he helped nonprofit leaders use databases to conduct research and find grant opportunities.
Alex Ogozaly on My Brother's Keeper: "My work at My Brother's Keeper continues to be life-changing. Each week I have the opportunity to deliver furniture and food to the homes of people humble enough to ask for assistance. Seeing their faces and hearing their stories is a constant reminder of the need for a more just and compassionate world. For me, serving others is no longer just a hobby or resume builder - it is a passion and most importantly a privilege. I am truly grateful to be involved with such an outstanding organization."
Contact
For more information, contact the Center for Nonprofit Management at 508-565-1856.