Over $1800 in grant money was given to six Freshman Service Experience groups to continue their community service projects in an Eagle Endowment reception on Friday afternoon.
The Eagle Endowment is a student-run program in the Center for Engagement and Community Service that awards grants of up to $1000 to AU student groups who propose service projects on campus and in D.C., according to the Eagle Endowment website.
Prevention Works and Lands and Waters both received $500 awards.
Prevention Works will organize a community barbeque and distribute safe sex kits, according to Eagle Endowment Coordinator Leah Simoncelli. Lands and Waters will coordinate garden planting at elementary and middle schools.
Groups that received $200 awards are: • City-Gate • Barbara Chambers Children’s Center • Center City Public Charter School-Shaw Campus • Emmaus Services for the Aging
City-Gate is the only FSE group to ever receive a fall Eagle Endowment grant for two years in a row, according to Simoncelli. FSE students working at City-Gate will prepare lesson plans for students at the City-Gate center and will take the students on trips in D.C. focused on learning about different cultures.
FSE participants who worked at the Barbara Chambers Children’s Center will tutor local students, arrange spring gardening projects and will hold a Thanksgiving service event.
The FSE group at Center City Public Charter School-Shaw Campus will hold an athletic equipment drive and paint murals.
Emmaus Services for the Aging will deliver groceries to seniors and will hold social events, including a Bingo Night, at Emmaus for the seniors.
Simoncelli said she is excited to see how the six FSE service projects will expand throughout the year.
“This grant allows [the students] to take ownership of the projects they started their first week of freshman year, and it empowers the students to make things happen,” she said.
The FSE groups will also coordinate with the Community Service Coalition. Simoncelli said CSC Director Stephen Bronskill will work with the Eagle Endowment Council to give resources and more volunteers to the FSE groups.
The Eagle Endowment will be awarding a Dr. Martin Luther King Civil Service Grant later this year and a spring service grant in early 2011, according to the Eagle Endowment website.
jryan@theeagleonline.com
