More than 1,000 students have registered as volunteers for the 12th year of Make a Difference Day at The University of Akron on Saturday, Oct. 22. They will head to locations across Summit County to make a difference through activities as diverse as cleaning up BMX tracks to creating Christmas tree ornaments for troops overseas.
Joining UA’s volunteer force of student and employee volunteers will be President Matthew Wilson and his family.
Make a Difference Day is an annual day of giving back celebrated in communities across the country on the last Saturday of October. UA’s program is one of the nation’s largest based at a university —students preregister for the event individually or as a part of 80-plus student organizations, from Akron Experience classes, and/or residence hall floors.
Positive impact of giving back
Over the last 11 years, University volunteers have dedicated more than 25,548 hours of service to the greater Akron area, partnering with dozens of nonprofit organizations each year. In correlation with the current minimum wage, the service provided by UA volunteers on Make a Difference Day amounts to more than $207,000 of work.
The University of Akron was recognized in 2013 by USA Weekend Magazine, Points of Light Foundation and Newman’s Own as one of 10 national honorees for exemplary oversight of a Make a Difference Day program. As part of this honor, UA was awarded $10,000 from the Newman’s Own Foundation, which was in turn donated to the United Way of Summit County.
Among the 36 nonprofit organizations at more than 60 sites local sites scheduled to benefit from the efforts of UA’s volunteers are:
- Williard United Church of Christ — Members of the softball team will once again assist with landscaping, painting, cleaning and organizing.
- Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens — Volunteers, including the Wilson family, will transport Christmas trees and help with garden clean up.
- Nazareth Housing Development — Students will assist with general construction and landscaping projects.
- Akron BMX — The volunteer crew will work around the BMX track and skate park, doing weeding and cleaning up a barn and buildings, and cleaning bikes and helmets.
- Operation Evergreen — Students will stay at the Student Union to create Christmas tree ornaments that will be sent with evergreen trees to troops serving overseas.
- Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank — Volunteers will be repacking frozen meat.
The Department of Student Life – Civic Engagement Programs (serveAkron) organizes UA’s annual Make a Difference Day.
Media contact: Lisa Craig, 330-972-7429 or lmc91@uakron.edu.
