FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2007
Contact: K.E. Schwab  -- 724-738-2199
karl.schwab@sru.edu

Spring break promises back-breaking work for 53 SRU student volunteers in 6 cities

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – It will be buckets, shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows and back-breaking hard work for 53 Slippery Rock University students who chose to spend spring break volunteering in six cities across the U.S. as part of the University’s Institute for Community, Service-Learning and Nonprofit Leadership CareBreak Program.

Students and group advisers will travel to Baltimore, Chicago, East St. Louis, New Orleans, Phoenix and San Francisco as part of the today through March 16 program. Since its 1994 inception, nearly 1,000 students have participated in the program.

Amy Kean, a counseling and development graduate student from Pittsburgh who is organizing this year’s overall program and participating in the Baltimore trip, said participating students have the chance to help a segment of a host community, travel and learn more about themselves. “It is also a great opportunity to make friends, not only with fellow SRU students, but with others in the host cities,” she said.

Volunteers headed to Baltimore will work with youth doing citywide clean up and after-school recreation programs in conjunction with the Baltimore’s Civic Works Program. In Chicago, volunteers will work with Hull House on community-service projects, and those in East St. Louis will help out at one of the poorest school districts in the country by aiding classroom teachers with everyday tasks and tutoring.

A 10-member group traveling to New Orleans will continue clean-up work from Hurricane Katrina, while those headed to Phoenix will work with a number of homeless shelters, food banks and other community organizations. SRU students will also lend a hand with environmental restoration and clean up work at Presidio National Park in San Francisco.

“Our CareBreak project gives students a chance to have a productive, educational and rewarding spring break,” Kean said.

Alice Kaiser-Drobney, institute director, estimates more than $1 million in community service has been provided by CareBreak volunteers.

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.

Editor’s Note: A list of participating students/advisers is attached.

Students participating in 2007 SRU CareBreak program