Alumni Give Back to Community

Photo by Nick Caramico

by Nick Caramico
edited by Phil Enright

Alumni participated in community service activities across the east coast as part of President Birge’s Inauguration week.

From Manchester, NH to New York City, Alumni represented their alma mater to give back in honor of the new President. Shirley English-Whitman, Alumni Relations Director, reached out to active members of the Alumni Association in hopes to get as large a turn out as possible. Ten events over two days in eight different states were organized for the weekend of April 10 and 11.

In Garfield New Jersey, Regina Bonito from the class of 2005 worked with Habitat for Humanity to rebuild a run down storefront. Previously an ice cream parlor and apartment, the building lay abandoned just off the main street of Garfield’s business district. As an effort to raise the town’s small business economy, Habitat for Humanity was enlisted to make an affordable, attractive, and safe building for a rising entrepreneur.

Photo by Nick Caramico

Hoping to have the structure complete in ten months, Habitat for Humanity representative John Pagliaro said, “A build like this depends on the volunteers. These Alumni will get us moving ahead on the framing of this building.” Pagliaro instructed Alumni and other volunteers on safety precautions before having them break up into two teams. Half the group was responsible for putting support beams on the main floor for what would later become the new exterior walls. The remaining Alumni began work on chiseling the old foundation to get ready for a new one.

Bonito spent much of her time carrying lumber from the main floor down to the crew in the basement. “Community Service means to me giving back to whatever community you call home,” Bonito said. A graduate of the Business department, Bonito was involved in community service since her time at the college and saw this as an opportunity to reach out to fellow alumni near her hometown. Graduates from as recent as 2008 and as far back as 1972 came out to show support for the college they attended for four years of their lives.

Current Sophomore Stephanie Lewis attended the Blackstone Park Cleanup in Providence, Rhode Island. Jaki Gaudet from the class of 2003 organized the clean up of grounds and walking trails of the park. “This event gives hope that even after we graduate, we will be able to find opportunities to get together and give back,” said Lewis.

James Birge will be inaugurated as the 4th President of the University. During the week leading up to the historic event, many different departments have organized activities to commemorate the occasion. The office of Alumni Relations encouraged former students to find a good cause near their current homes and organize a community service project.

Footage of these events filmed by Fitzwater Center Scholars and Fellows will be organized into a video package for the Inauguration. President James Birge’s Inauguration will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Fieldhouse on Saturday April 17.