In addition to the solidarity event from 12-1 on the West Mall today, there will be an ongoing fundraising events tomorrow in Jester and Gregory Gym.

The campus community will gather at the West Mall today, Thursday January 21, at noon. Over 500 students, faculty, staff, and community members are expected. Please join us for a moment of solidarity.

Haiti Relief
Moment of Solidarity
University of Texas – West Mall
Thursday, January 21, 2010

11:55 – 12:05 Gather students around West Mall to participate on the event
12:05 – 12:10 Welcome and Introduction by Student Volunteer Board
12:10 – 12:15 Student remarks by Liam O’Rourke
12:15 – 12:25 Speaker Dr. Gonzalez – VP for Student Affairs
12:25 – 12:30 Moment of Silence
12:30 – 12:40 Texas Roundtable announces “Hold up for Haiti” and other ways to give back
12:40 – 1:00 Thank you by Student Volunteer Board

The Student Volunteer Board will be tabling this week and next week to raise money and awareness for relief in Haiti.

Stop by the tables in front of Gregory Gym and in the West Mall between 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. They will be passing out fliers with information on where to donate and will also be collecting change to be donated to the American Red Cross of Central Texas.

For more information, contact the Volunteer and Service Learning Center at 512-471-6161.

Approximately 300 UT students helped make Austin a better place by volunteering their time and energy to service projects during the Student Volunteer Board’s Project Reach Out on Nov. 14. Students tackled projects from trash pick up to preparing Thanksgiving meals for 16 participating agencies. Co-chairs of the event were junior Louisa Tao, sophomore Arame Thiam, and senior Jeff Shieh.

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Chairs: Katherine Ho & Tiffany Chui
Contact info:  utreads.svb at gmail.com
Webite: http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/svb/svb/UT%20Reads.html
Meeting time & place: Tuesdays, 6 PM SSBG1.104 usually once a month or when necessary, updates will be sent out via listserv.

What is UT Reads?
UT Reads is a volunteer program designed to cultivate a love for reading for students in the Austin community. They participate in read-a-thons at various schools, as well as Heart House, an afterschool program that allows volunteers to be “Reading Buddies” with a kindergarten through grade 6 student. Many volunteers essentially turn into a mentor to the student. UT Reads strives to create an environment for children where reading is fun and enjoyable!

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Program name: UT Hope
Chairs: Allison Wong, Kevin Duong, Jimmie Chen
Contact info: uthope.svb@gmail.com
Website: http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/svb/svb/UT%20HOPE.html
Meeting time & place: Every other Tuesday (starting September 15th) 6-7 pm in Garrison 1.126

What is UT Hope?
UT Hope is a volunteer organization that addresses a variety of health conditions rather than focusing on one particular health issue. They volunteer all over Austin and strive to promote health awareness on campus and in the community. As an organization they also try to educate themselves and learn about numerous health conditions and diseases before they volunteer. They have created a committee system that lets members get more involved in the planning of projects and events.

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Chairs: Rachel Loewenstein, Brianna Buford & Veronica Fassio
Contact info:  utseniorsmiles at gmail.com
Website: http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/svb/svb/Senior%20Smiles.html
Meeting time & place: Every other Wednesday at 5PM in SSB G 1.104

What is Senior Smiles?
Senior Smiles is a student run program that reaches out to the elderly community of Austin. They provide the elderly with company and try to exercise their brains and communication skills through various activities. Every Sunday they volunteer at Barton Hills Assisted Living Home, playing bingo, making puppets, and much more.

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Chairs: Louisa Tao, Arame Thiam, Jeff Shieh
Contact info:  svbprojectreachout at gmail.com
Website: http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/svb/pro/

What is Project Reach Out?
Project Reach Out (PRO) aims to connect UT students with local non-profit agencies for a day of service in the Austin community. PRO recruit and organize volunteers for nonprofits that have expressed a need to complete a special project or event. In one day, many nonprofits benefit by PRO simply providing more manpower. Next semester Project Reach Out will be held in March!

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Chairs: Carah Coyne, Luan Nguyen, Radhika Dutta
Contact info:  longhornoutreach at gmail.com
Website: http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/svb/svb/Longhorn%20Outreach.html
Meeting time & place: SSB 4.212, Alternate Tuesdays 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Scheduled event dates:
Oct. 24th – University Methodist Church Outreach Lunch
Nov. 7th – Town Lake Animal Shelter
Nov. 14th – Project Reachout
Dec. 5th – Coat for Kids

What is Longhorn Outreach?
Longhorn Outreach volunteers at a wide range of events each month. Their causes include: the environment, animals, elderly, children, and other needs of the Austin community. Longhorn Outreach hopes that by getting the UT community engaged in volunteering they can make the slightest difference in the community.

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Program name: UT Plays
Chairs: Nicole Nguyen and Cristina Flores
Contact info: utplays@gmail.com
Website: http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/svb/svb/UT%20Plays.html
Meeting time & place: Every other Tuesday at 5 in UTC 1.130
Scheduled event dates: Every other Saturday

What is UT Plays?
UT Plays seeks to serve underprivileged, abused, neglected and developmentally disabled children and families in the Austin community. UT Plays creates volunteer activities such as toy clean ups, child care, socials and fundraisers.

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