Posted January 7, 2015
Temple earns a spot on the national Honor Roll for General Community Service
Ryan S. Brandenberg
Temple has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll every year since 2008. Above in 2008: Incoming students participated in FreshServe, an initiative that set the tone for service throughout the academic year by introducing students to the North Philadelphia community during a day of volunteer work.
-
2009: Temple co-sponsored the 15th Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service. Organized by Philadelphia nonprofit organization Global Citizen, the annual event highlighted MLK365, a program designed to stimulate year-round civic engagement and volunteerism. (Photo by Betsy Manning) -
2010: To help make the holiday season a little brighter for area children, Campus Safety Services collected more than 360 toys for kids who attended the Children’s Holiday Party at the Liacouras Center. Each year several departments sponsor toy drives for local children. (Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg) -
2011: The inaugural 20/20 Scholarship class entered Temple in 2011.The scholarship, created specifically to benefit North Philadelphia students, boosted the amount of scholarships awarded to Philadelphia students by Temple to nearly $12 million annually. (Photo by Joseph V. Labolito) -
2012: Michael Robinson, director of community outreach for Temple’s Office of Human Resources, led biannual professional development workshops for community members interested in strengthening their skill set. These ongoing workshops include managing the online application process, resume development and interviewing skills. (Photo by Joseph V. Labolito) -
2013: Volunteers from the Office of Community Relations and the Computer Recycling Center set up 26 donated, refurbished computers at the Bright Hope Baptist Church, east of Temple’s campus. The computers were made available to the church administration, as well as children participating in the church’s after-school and summer-camp programs. (Photo by Betsy Manning, SMC ’87, CLA ’08) -
2014: Prior to her 21st birthday in December, Lorae Bonamy, Class of 2016, started the 21 Days of Love campaign to raise awareness about and collect donations for the homeless in Philadelphia. The public relations and English major spent her Christmas morning leading a group of volunteers around Philadelphia as they passed out donated items to those in need. (Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg)
Temple University has been named to the 2014 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for community service, service learning and civic engagement.
“Temple values its role as a stakeholder and neighbor in Philadelphia,” said Andrea Swan, director of community and neighborhood affairs at Temple. “The university is proud of its relationships with the diverse communities, institutions and agencies surrounding its various campuses.”
The honor roll recognizes higher-education institutions whose community service efforts achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities.
From the 20/20 Scholarship program, which works to increase the number of Philadelphia residents with college degrees, to the College of Public Health’s Center for Obesity Research and Education, which promotes healthy eating, Temple engages in a wide range of service activities.
Students also make a difference. In addition to group activities organized by schools, colleges and administrative offices, many students, such as public relations and English major Lorae Bonamy, Class of 2016, take on individual projects that improve communities in Philadelphia.
Last year, in lieu of having a traditional 21st-birthday celebration, Bonamy used the occasion to raise awareness about and donations for the homeless in Philadelphia. Her 21 Days of Love campaign was featured in the Philadelphia Daily News.
“Temple's strong community of students, employees and alumni are encouraged to volunteer their time and talents throughout the year,” said Swan.
Temple has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll every year since 2008.