Media Releases
September 12, 2007
United Way, Time Warner Cable Announce Campus Connection
New program gives grants to college students who want to give back to our community
Rochester, NY – Surrounded by more than 50 students and staff from nine area colleges, leaders from United Way of Greater Rochester and Time Warner Cable this morning announced they have joined forces to create Campus Connection - a unique program that links area college students with volunteer opportunities, and provides grant money to cover the “hard costs” associated with those projects.
The Peace Garden at East High School served as the backdrop of this morning’s announcement. There, a group of college students spent the day working on beautifying the garden by weeding, planting and mulching, while other students worked inside the school - painting locker rooms purple and gold (the East High colors). All totaled, nearly $1,000 worth of work was done, thanks to a Campus Connection grant given to The Center for Youth, a not-for-profit organization that runs a student support center at East High School.
Through the web site, www.uwcampusconnection.org, college students can find community volunteer opportunities and can apply for a Campus Connection grant to cover any out of pocket costs that may be associated with those projects. For example, if a student group wants to paint, garden or do another project at a recognized not-for-profit agency, they can apply for a grant to cover supplies – for items like paint, rollers, rakes, plants, and other necessary items.
“In a time when we are working to keep college graduates in our region, this program offers a great way for students to become interested in the community they live in,” said Peter Carpino, President of United Way of Greater Rochester.
Currently, nine area colleges—all part of the Rochester Area Colleges Students Activities Consortium—have signed up to be part of Campus Connection. Those schools are: Finger Lakes Community College, Monroe Community College, Nazareth College, Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John Fisher College, SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo, and the University of Rochester.
“Time Warner Cable is proud to partner with the United Way in sponsoring Campus Connection,” said Terence Rafferty, Time Warner Cable Division President. “Rochester is fortunate to have so many world class universities and colleges, and the students who attend these schools are a vital part of our community and they want to give back through volunteerism. This program will provide the resources to ensure that when the students pick a worthy local not for profit organization that needs some help, that they will have the support to make a difference.”
Grants are given on a four to six week cycle. To learn more about this program, available volunteer opportunities, and to apply, visit www.uwcampusconnection.org.
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United Way’s mission is to magnify and focus the power of community resources to address our most pressing social needs.