December 11, 2008

Case Western Reserve University Earns 2008 Pillar Award for Community Service

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Case Western Reserve University, which offers over 500 community outreach programs for nearly 600 community partners, is being recognized with a 2008 Pillar Award for Community Service. This is the first time the university has received the award, according to Latisha James, director of the Center for Community Partnerships.

Developed by Smart Business Network and Medical Mutual, the Pillar Award honors businesses and individuals dedicated to making Northeast Ohio a better place to live. The Pillar Award embraces a broad definition of community service, including charitable giving, volunteerism, pro bono work and other forms of giving back.

The university—along with other award winners—will be honored at a ceremony this evening. Case Western Reserve President Barbara R. Snyder is scheduled to accept the award on behalf of the university. In addition, winners are featured in the December issue of Smart Business Cleveland and Smart Business Akron/Canton, on newsstands now.

Case Western Reserve faculty, staff and students invest nearly 400,000 hours of community service every year. The university partners with local agencies and organizations in the areas of academic, health, social service, community and economic development. Some of these partnerships include:

  • Case for Community Day: The university's campus-wide day of volunteer service is an opportunity for the campus community to give back to neighborhood residents and organizations. Since its inception in 2003, nearly 1,800 campus members have participated. In addition, nearly $1 million has been raised for the university’s Charity Choice Campaign comprised of United Way, Earth Shares and Community Shares agencies;
  • The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD): Case Western Reserve students, faculty and staff engage in over 70 signature PreK-12 programs with the CMSD. Examples include the Upward Bound Program, the Center for Layered Polymeric Systems and the School of Dental Medicine's Healthy Smiles Sealant Program;
  • Big Brothers Big Sister of Greater Cleveland: The School of Law's Big Buddies program allows law students to serve as mentors and tutors to students from the CMSD who come to campus each week for tutoring and recreational activities. The university's relationship is considered to be the oldest community partnership to the Cleveland agency;
  • The National Youth Sports Program: The five-week summer sports and enrichment program for Greater Cleveland children ages 10 to 16 primarily from low-income families. Nominated as the number one recreation program in the country, more than 14,000 young people have participated since 1970;
  • The Cleveland Foodbank: Through the community service efforts of the university's fraternities and sororities, over 15,000 cans of food were donated to this agency, which serves needy families in Greater Cleveland. In addition, students in the Case SERVES program regularly volunteer at the agency; and
  • The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland: This organization receives collaborative services and resources from faculty, staff, students and alumni affiliated with the university's medical and dental schools, along with other programs.

For more information contact Kimyette Finley, 216.368.0521.

Posted by: Kimyette Finley, December 11, 2008 11:40 AM | News Topics: Administration, Alumni, Collaborations/Partnerships, College of Arts and Sciences, Community Outreach, Faculty, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Graduate Studies, Mandel Center for Non-Profit Organizations, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, School of Law, School of Medicine, Staff, Students, Weatherhead School of Management, news

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