Hundreds of Pitt Volunteers Participate in Annual Day of Caring

More than 400 Pitt alumni, faculty, and staff members donned work clothes, rolled up their sleeves, and broke a sweat for local community organizations during Pitt’s 22nd annual Day of Caring on Sept. 24. The daylong volunteering initiative enabled members of the University community to contribute to service projects in the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.

The 2013 Day of Caring was among the largest on record. The service program was timed to coincide with homecoming, in order to provide alumni with an opportunity to serve, and featured more volunteering opportunities than ever before.

Pitt volunteers worked on 44 projects at 24 locations in the communities of Bloomfield, Duquesne, East Liberty, Greenfield, Hill District, Homestead, Homewood, Larimer, Munhall, Oakland, Shadyside, and Squirrel Hill. The various projects ranged from stocking food products at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to clearing and beautifying Lawn Street in South Oakland.

Pitt’s Assistant Vice Chancellor for Community Relations John Wilds has been affiliated with Pitt’s Day of Caring from its earliest days in the 1990s. He said the annual day of service goes a long way in assisting community organizations to meet their goals, and it showcases Pitt’s commitment to being a good neighbor to the broader Pittsburgh community.

“By serving at our community partner sites, Pitt’s alumni, faculty, students, and staff, strengthen the relationships that Pitt has within the community as well as help the Pitt community access opportunities for academic engagement, research, and student internships,” said Wilds. “As we have done for the past 22 years, the University, along with other organizations, has assisted with meeting the needs of the community and has made a positive impact on the quality of life in the City of Pittsburgh.”

Pitt’s 22nd annual Day of Caring was held in association with the United Way and in partnership with TIAA-CREF, a retirement planning and investment management organization serving University faculty and staff.