University of Mount Union
PAE-22: Community Service Participation

Notes About the Submission

For the past three years, the Corporation for National and Community Service honored the University of Mount Union with a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to America’s communities.

Among the projects recognized in 2010 were:
• Up ’til Dawn is a student-led, student-run philanthropic fundraising program that raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to find new treatments for cancer, sickle cell disease and other catastrophic childhood diseases. In 2010, Mount Union students collectively raised $77,121.92 and in 2009 students raised $73,547.54.
• Make a Difference Week was started by Mount Union in 2006 to expand upon Make a Difference Day which is a national, annual event that provides an opportunity for individuals to volunteer and make a difference in their local communities. Sponsored by the Office of Service-Learning and Community Service, the week included service projects in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, McCrea Manor, Southside Church of God, Cleveland Zoo, Stark Parks, Damascus Elementary School, Interfaith Child Development Center, Copeland Oaks, Alliance Neighborhood Center and Kiwanis’ monthly food distribution, as well as raising money for Autism Speaks and trick or treating for canned goods to benefit the Alliance Area Domestic Violence Shelter and Alliance Food Pantry.
• The Dowling Mentor Program is a collaboration between the University of Mount Union students and middle and high school students in the Alliance City School District. This program is designed to enrich young students' lives by pairing them with mentors for tutoring, cultural, recreational and community service activities.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service included a variety of service projects that gave participants the opportunity to improve the lives of others. This year, participants volunteered their time at Alliance Pregnancy Center, Alliance Neighborhood Center, Alliance YMCA, Alliance Area Domestic Violence Shelter, Feed My Sheep Ministries, First Emmanuel, First United Presbyterian Church and the Salvation Army.
• The Trash to Treasure Recycling Sale, sponsored by the Student Senate Purple Raider Empowerment Program (PREP), was instituted to empower every Mount Union student, staff and faculty member to address the issue of waste reduction and recycling as well as serve the Alliance community. As students move out of their dorm rooms, they often throw out food, old appliances and other valuables. This project presented the opportunity to recycle these materials and raise funds to benefit United Way.
• Great Cities Great Service Courses are academic courses at Mount Union that have a service-learning component aimed at youth leadership development.