Students give back through Purdue United Way Campaign
October 2, 2014
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Elizabeth Lauer, president of Purdue Student United Way. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons) |
Education plays a central role in the 2014 Purdue United Way Campaign. In addition to serving as the Greater Lafayette campaign's theme, it's the focus of many Purdue students' volunteering efforts within local United Way agencies.
According to Anne Parks, director of the Purdue United Way Campaign, each week 25 Purdue students volunteer through the United Way's Read to Succeed Program.
The Read to Succeed Program invites volunteers to local elementary schools for one hour a week to help students improve their literacy skills.
Approximately 500 volunteers assist the 3,800 third-grade students in 11 schools each year.
Ashley Deutsch, a Purdue graduate student, has been volunteering for United Way for four years, in two of which she's been a Read to Succeed volunteer.
"I love it!" Deutsch says. "It gives me a chance to connect with kids, and as the year goes on, I can see the growth in all of them."
Evidence supports her observation. Parks says that Read to Succeed has improved students' IREAD-3 test scores by 50 percent in the last year.
However, the third-graders are not the only beneficiaries from Read to Succeed. Elizabeth Lauer, Purdue Student United Way president, says that making a difference in the community is rewarding in itself.
"The most rewarding part of volunteering with United Way is knowing that you are helping others," Lauer says. "We all have busy lives and things to do, but if we just take a little bit of time during our week to serve food for Meals on Wheels, or read to a third-grade class for Read to Succeed, we are making a difference in our community."
Over 1,500 Purdue students give back to the community through volunteering at United Way agencies. In addition to Read to Succeed, Right Steps Child Development Centers, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Lafayette Adult Resource Academy and Lafayette Transitional Housing Center all see significant student involvement.
Lauer says that one of the goals of the Purdue Student United Way this year is to encourage younger students to get involved to continue its legacy.
"We want our peers to develop an awareness of the needs in our county and a lifelong commitment to volunteer service," Lauer says.
Although the Purdue United Way Campaign formally wraps up in November, students continue volunteering with United Way agencies throughout the academic year.
"Purdue students truly share their time and talents with people in our Greater Lafayette community who need their help," Parks says. "We are so grateful for the students who embrace the community."
Read to Succeed is still in need of 125 volunteers to fill the needs of elementary schools throughout Greater Tippecanoe County. To learn more about volunteering and submit an application, visit www.readtosucceedgreaterlafayette.org.
About the Purdue United Way Campaign
Purdue's 2014 United Way campaign runs Sept. 11 through Nov. 19. Called "Success Starts Here: Live United," the Purdue campaign has the goal of raising $755,000 for local human services agencies. More information about the campaign and how to make a donation is available here.
Writer: Kourtney Freiburger, 49-62993, kfreibu@purdue.edu
