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UVM’s ASB program just got back, after spending 10 days around the United States providing 5,200 service hours to communities in need. More details on this experience soon, but till then, check out UVM hanging out with Michael Franti at one of our project sites in New Orleans!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Lluvia Mulvaney-Stanak, Assistant Director of Student Life Leadership & Civic Engagement Programs, 802-656-2060,
lluvia.mulvaney-stanak@uvm.edu

Sarah Heim, Student Life Leadership & Civic Engagement Programs AmeriCorps VISTA Program Coordinator for the Campus Kitchen at UVM, 802-656-2060, sarah.heim@uvm.edu

Burlington, Vermont─ At 12pm on Saturday, March 13th, the University of Vermont men’s basketball team will host Boston University for the America East Championship. Soon after tip off, the UVM community will celebrate a victory already achieved last weekend during the women’s America East Conference Basketball Championship in Hartford, CT.

Last Sunday, Newman’s Own Foundation, the late Paul Newman’s philanthropic endeavor, unveiled the top three grant recipients of its first-ever Campus Community Service Challenge. Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf in connection with the Campus Kitchen at UVM received the top grant of $25,000.

“Challenges like this one led by Newman’s Own Foundation encourages students and solidifies our philanthropic drive,” said Liz Schindler, club coordinator of The Campus Kitchen at University of Vermont. “Not only will we give back today, but we are inspired to
continue after graduation.”

Half of the grant award, $12,500, will go directly to the Food Shelf to support their programs and infrastructure. The other half will help to support the Campus Kitchen at UVM’s (CK UVM) nutrition classes and summer internship program.

The Newman’s Own Foundation Campus Community Service Challenge was developed to foster social good on the America East Conference campuses and in surrounding communities. One student group, chosen from each of the America East’s nine member universities, participated on behalf of its affiliated nonprofit for a Newman’s Own Foundation grant.

“A priority of the Foundation is to encourage the practice of philanthropy among as broad a population as possible,” said Bob Forrester, president of Newman’s Own Foundation. “We thought bringing this challenge to America East Conference campuses would be a good way to seed future leadership with these ideals. The responses from the universities have demonstrated that the cornerstone for philanthropy is already solidly in place at these institutions. In fact, these students represent the next generation of leadership.”

To implement the challenge among college students, the Foundation partnered with the America East Conference to identify a leading, service-focused student group at each member university who is closely affiliated with a nonprofit. The grant decisions were
based on:

o The level of the student group’s involvement with its affiliated nonprofit, and the degree to which that involvement reflects Paul Newman’s philanthropic spirit of creativity and commitment.

o The actual mission and programs of the nonprofit, the populations and purposes it serves, and the impact the Foundation’s grant would have on them.

The applications of the nine student group/non-profit pairings were reviewed and grants recommended by the Challenge’s Selection Panel. Leaders in philanthropy and social activism, the judges were:

o Rebecca Lobo, basketball analyst for ESPN and former player in the Women’s National Basketball Association
o John Marshall, former president of The Kresge Foundation
o Ryan Scott, CEO and founder of Causecast

“A major educational component at all of our nine universities is to encourage our students to get involved in their communities and give back their time whenever possible,” said America East Commissioner Patrick Nero. “To have a partner such as Newman’s Own Foundation reinforces this value to our students. The Foundation’s donations will have a meaningful impact in all nine of our communities and for this we are tremendously thankful.”

To learn more about the challenge and the nine student group/non-profit pairings, please visit Newman’s Own Foundation’s website.

Photos and interviews with spokespeople from Newman’s Own Foundation, UVM, and the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf are available upon request. Saturday’s championship game will also be broadcast on ESPN2.

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Check out this video of the UVM Food Salvage group serving a meal at the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf! To volunteer for a Sunday evening shift, email Holly Watson (Holly.Watson@uvm.edu).
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