May 11, 2009
For Immediate Release

For an Interview:
Linda Makin
(801) 863-8457

UVU Faculty, Staff, Students to Provide More Than 1,500 Hours of Community Service

More than 500 individuals, consisting of faculty, staff and students, representing five Utah Valley University administrative divisions will provide more than 1,500 hours of community service this Thursday as part of UVU’s annual Summer University. Summer University is a week of education and related activities for UVU faculty and staff, one day of which will be dedicated to serving the community and various organizations throughout Utah County.

"I think this is what we are all about as a University," said Bob Rasmussen, UVU’s dean of students and a project coordinator for Summer University. "By getting out in the community we are showing folks that we are one of them and part of them."

Individuals from UVU Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Administration, Executive and Advancement divisions will clean up area parks, produce learning games for children, assemble hygiene kits, assist at the Community Action Food Bank, clean sections of public roads, participate in various projects for Habitat for Humanity and aid in the remodeling of an elderly care center.

"Learning to serve is a skill that carries on throughout your life," Rasmussen said. Projects that UVU staff will be involved in this week are as follows.

• STUDENT AFFAIRS is expecting 350-450 individuals to help weed, spread mulch and wood chips, and pick up trash in eight parks in Utah County.
• INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT participants will go to Lindon Care Center located in Lindon, Utah, and work on remodeling projects such as ripping out carpet, laying new linoleum, painting, patching walls, fixing roof leaks and decorating.
• Individuals from the UVU ADMINISTRATION will assemble hygiene kits to be donated to the Food & Care Coalition and Community Action Services, clean and fix-up UVU’s Wee Care Center, clean two sections of Utah County roads, and participate in various projects for Habitat for Humanity.
• ACADEMIC AFFAIRS volunteers will put together learning games that will be sent to local elementary schools, Kids on the Move, Headstart and other agencies working with children.
• UVU’s EXECUTIVE DIVISION will weed, lay bark and plant at the University’s Utah Native Garden and will sort food, clean and compile family food boxes at the Community Action Services Food Bank.

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University Marketing Contact:
Erin Spurgeon
(801) 863-6807

Written by:
Jay Hinton
(801) 863-8504