ASU Cares Day spreads message of community service from coast to coast

On Saturday, March 19, Arizona State University alumni from around the nation participated in volunteer projects as part of the ASU Cares Day of Service. The ASU Alumni Association, sponsor of the annual event, partnered with its alumni chapters from across the United States to help Sun Devils work together to provide service to their local communities.

Every year, the Alumni Association invites all ASU students, faculty, staff, and alumni to participate in events associated with ASU Cares. The association’s intent is to produce a day of national day of civic involvement, according to Christine K. Wilkinson, president of the ASU Alumni Association.

"It's important for the ASU Alumni Association to leverage its geographical location by serving in communities where Sun Devils live," Wilkinson said. "This is a wonderful way for alumni to reconnect with their local chapters and give back to the community, while at the same time representing ASU."

A sampling of service projects performed as part of ASU Cares included:

Spring 2011 ASU Cares: Day of Service projects (partial listing)

• Project Angel Heart in Denver, Colo.
• River Mountains Loop Trail clean-up in Las Vegas, Nev.
• Heal the Bay Beach clean-up in Los Angeles, Calif.
• Beach clean-up in Orange County, Calif.
• Philabundance Hunger Relief Center in Philadelphia, Penn.
• Highland Park Beautification in Pittsburgh, Penn.
• Audubon Society in Portland, Ore.
• ASU Desert Arboretum Park in Tempe, Ariz.
• Canned Food Drive in Tucson, Ariz.
• Hands on DC Project in Washington, DC (on March 12)

To learn more about this annual event, visit a photo gallery from the nationwide 2011 ASU Cares Day of Service.