Community Groups Benefit
From ‘UC Cares’ Activities

April 28, 2009

By Pat JaCoby

Some will assist athletes in a variety of sports at the Special Olympics May 2. Others will help with planting in a Ruffin Canyon beautification project, weeding in Tecolote Canyon, or assisting with Famosa Slough restoration.

They’re among the hundreds of University of California, San Diego students who will participate in “UC Cares Week” May 2-9, an annual event which raises awareness and inspires activism for local, national and global social issues.  Through its numerous projects, this year’s Care Week will target awareness for Rady Children’s Hospital.

“More than 400 students from some 45 organizations have indicated they will participate in this year’s community service campaign,” said Sam Soloman, leadership coordinator, Center for Student Involvement. “Participants can sign up for community service activities, donate items to charities, contribute to fundraising efforts, and engage with on- and-off campus philanthropic organizations.”

Events begin May 2 when students pile into carpools to leave for service sites in the community, and end May 9 with a Dance Marathon benefit sponsored by the UCSD Student Foundation.

Among the Care Week activities are:

• “Hands on San Diego,” local community projects such as the canyon and slough restoration projects, coordinated by Volunteer Connections at UCSD.
• “Splash for Scholarships,” a fundraiser for student scholarships sponsored by the Student Foundation, during which prominent campus leaders will get dunked in a water tank by students. Among those participating in the May 2 event will be Armin Afsahi, executive director of Alumni Affairs, and students Stephanie Usry and Jordan Lawley.
• The sale of pins made by Rwandans affected by HIV/AIDS, with proceeds donated to Partners in Health in Africa, where $30 provides a living wage for one month for the pin makers.
• A tie-dye event sponsored by the Model United Nations at UCSD to benefit the UN trust fund to end violence against women.
• The Pre-Dental Society will raise funds for supplies for its free dental clinics in San Diego, while the Pre-Veterinary Association will hold a fund raiser to support the work of Animal Rescuers without Borders in helping the abandoned and homeless animal population in Mexico.
• The Revelle Community Outreach group will distribute supplies for students to make two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, one to be given to a homeless person as part of a bag lunch project for the homeless in San Diego.
• Proceeds from a booth sponsored by the UCSD Circle K International Club will go to the Rady Children’s Hospital and UNICEF’s Six Cents Initiative. In the latter project, for only six cents, a mixture of sugar and salt offers the most effective way to help save lives during episodes of dehydration.

For further information see http://ucsdcares.ucsd.edu

Media Contact: Pat JaCoby, 857-534-7404 or pjacoby@ucsd.edu