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September 9, 2004
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Media Contact: |
Mike Andrei
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Service-learning Fair Contact: |
Danielle Woodman
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Western New York Service-learning Coalition to Host
Service-Learning Fair at Daemen College
8 Local Colleges and Universities, Over 30 Community Agencies Will be Represented
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On Friday, September 10th, the Western New York Service-Learning Coalition, together with some 30 Western New York non-profit agencies, will collaborate to host a comprehensive service-learning fair on the Daemen College campus in Amherst. The Service-Learning Fair will mark the first time that this many colleges and universities have joined together with non-profit service organizations to host a single, mutually beneficial event. This event is free and open to the public.
The Service-Learning Fair will be a unique forum, providing participating non-profit agencies with ready access to large numbers of student and faculty volunteers participating in community service and service-learning at Western New York colleges and universities. From 11 a.m.-1 p.m., representatives from over 30 community agencies and from 8 local colleges and universities will be at tables to provide information about service opportunities at their organizations and to answer questions. From 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., faculty and students will give a panel presentation on their own service-learning experiences. The Western New York Service-Learning Coalition, co-founded by Daemen and Niagara University, is a large group of colleges and universities, K-12 schools, service providers, government agencies, and private organizations. The Coalition is committed to creating valuable service-learning experiences for students that meet local, regional, and global community-identified needs. The WNYSLC accomplishes this through a sharing of resources, curriculum, and best practices. Daemen College is a co-founder and current member of the Coalition. Dr. Bonnie Rose, Niagara University's Executive Vice President/Vice President for Academic Affairs said, "The service-learning fair will allow community agencies to become familiar with the resources available through local college and university service-learning programs and will allow college and university students the opportunity to discover the many service opportunities available in the community." Daemen Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Edwin Clausen also emphasized the importance of collaboration among Western New York's non-profit agencies and the area's college and university service-learning programs. "Just as the Buffalo Conversation has provided a forum for discussing the consolidation of our government services, The Western New York Service-learning Coalition brings together the many non-profit agencies who depend on volunteers and the colleges and universities whose service-learning programs provide those volunteers." Dr. Clausen noted. "Moreover, this is very much an action-oriented coalition. We are focused on taking action that implements change and community improvement through this substantial collaboration." Carmaletta Zandi is President of Morlock Foundation, an organization with the mission to improve the lives of families whose children have disease by mobilizing the power of a caring community, spiritual support, financial grant assistance and empowerment. Ms. Zandi, who has been coordinating the agency involvement in the Fair notes, "Service-learning encourages the growth of individual students by helping them examine their values, strengths and things we all take for granted. In turn, students participating in service help organizations run smoothly while strengthening the communities around them." For more information about the Coalition, visit: http://www.daemen.edu/sites/WNYSLC Western New York non-profit agencies participating in the Service-Learning Fair are: American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo, LIFE Project AmeriCorps ACT Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County Bornhava Early Childhood Center & Preschool Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo Buffalo Christian Center Buffalo Weed and Seed Buffalo Zoological Gardens Central Referral Service Child Care Coalition of the Niagara Frontier Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled Compass House Compeer West Early Intervention Food Bank of WNY Good Schools for All Habitat for Humanity/Buffalo Heritage Centers Horizon Health Services Journey's End Refugee Services Learning Disabled of WNY Leave a Legacy Literacy Volunteers of America, Buffalo & Erie County Meals on Wheels Foundation of WNY Morlock Foundation National Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality Service Operation Dignity of Buffalo Saving Grace Ministries Schofield Residence Summit Educational Resources United Way of Buffalo & Erie County VIVE: An Organization for World Refugees WNY United Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse Participating Colleges and Universities Buffalo State College Canisius College D'Youville College Daemen College Erie Community College Niagara University University at Buffalo Villa Maria College |