A Look Back at the 2016 30 Days of Giving

During the holiday season, the spirit of giving and kindness surround us everyday and remind us to be grateful for what we have. This month we decided to show how SUNY students, staff and faculty give back to their communities through charitable works and a lending hand through the 2016 30 Days of Giving.

As part of SUNY’s collective vision, SUNY and the Vibrant Community seeks to bring strong communities in New York together to enhance the quality of life for all citizens. And community service is a great way to give back to those around you.

In this year’s 30 Days of Giving, we saw how campuses participated in many different forms of giving throughout the year. For example, Erie Community College showed young students the importance of a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their families, books were donated and collected by students at the University at Albany to give to children, and a food pantry was opened on the campus of SUNY Oswego, among many other efforts. Most of the students gave back to their communities with large groups such as athletic teams, fraternities, sororities, and clubs. Students showed that there are many ways to give back and it can be fun when you participate with your friends.

The efforts we saw provide students with the opportunity to participate in an applied learning experience that foster meaningful and reciprocal partnerships with our communities. In taking initiative in these community service opportunities, students gain leadership experience and other characteristics that will help them develop skills and talents to help them reach new levels of success in the future.

In case you missed a story, here is a full recap: