A Tradition of Volunteerism and Service
There are over 100 registered student organizations dedicated soley to acts of volunteerism and service. There are hundred's more that participate in service activities in addition to pursuing their main missions. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a tradition of student volunteerism and service that continues to grow. Click on the above links to see the history behind some of the U of I's oldest works of student volunteerism and service and what they're up to today!
Alternative Spring Break
More Coming Soon
Alternative Spring Break is an organization of committed persons working and learning to address issues concerning social and environmental injustice. Alternative Spring Break provides students with the opportunity to spend their Fall, Winter, or Spring break involved in a service-learning project. Fifteen students and a YMCA advisor serve on the ASB Planning Board. ASB exemplifies that social change occurs most effectively when students serve and learn in diverse groups.
Site participants educate each other on the issue(s) they will confront on their trip and are expected to be knowledgeable by the time they leave for break. Student site-facilitators organize elements of their group's service trip and post-service project. They are expected to work with, encourage and provide guidance to site participants. The post-service group project is intended to encourage individuals to commit to long-term service and to a fight against social injustice, as well as to become aware of how their trip issue affects our community. This concept stresses ASB's belief that ASB lasts 365 days a year, not just one week.
Alternative Spring Break at the UIUC began in 1989 with one trip to Brownsville , Texas , where 20 students participated in work projects with refugees from Central America. After a very intense spring break experience, these students returned with a strong desire to see their experience made available to others. From that enthusiasm came ASB. The ASB program continues to grow and is currently experiencing its largest amount of growth since the beginning of the organization. This year, Fall, Winter, and Spring break trips will provide over 200 students with the opportunity to be a part of the ASB experience and do something different with their academic breaks.
Volunteer Illini Projects
Click HERE For a Quick Look into VIP's Past!   
Volunteer Illini Projects, Inc. is a student-run, student-staffed volunteer organization committed to peace, unity, and change. By working with and within the community, VIP makes a positive impact through service, thereby enriching students' educational experience and committing students to a lifetime of volunteerism. VIP strives to foster unity and enhance interpersonal connections through mutual understanding and empowerment. The dynamic tradition of past student initiative and vision for positive social action guides the future of Volunteer Illini Projects, Inc.
Volunteer Illini Projects was founded in 1963 by a group of 25 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign students under the name Illini House. They collaborated to provide tutoring services to the schools in the Urbana-Champaign area. Services expanded rapidly and by 1965, VIP became incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. Since then, the number of student volunteers has risen to more than 3,700. As members of the largest student-staffed, student-run organization in the state, Volunteer Illini Projects volunteers work to improve the partnership between students and the local community.
VIP is composed of 15 different service projects in every area of the community. Each project has its own set of service opportunities and its own mission. Transportation is usually provided to most of the volunteer events.
a personal message…
VIP is an incredibly diverse and accommodating organization filled with dedicated individuals. If you have a passion for serving, this is the group for you. With 15 different service projects, one is bound to spark your interest. Check out our web site for more information on Volunteer Illini Projects.
Vis-a-Vis
Click HERE For a Quick Look into Vis-a-Vis' Past!
   
Community service projects have always been an emphasis at the University YMCA. Originally, Local children were tutored in the "Pal Program" and now through Vis-a-vis. Over 200 students tutor one-on-one kids in the schools of Champaign-Urbana. Vis-a-Vis (Volunteers in Schools: A Vital Instructional Service) was formed in 1981 when drastic cuts were made in school budgets resulting in larger classes and overworked teachers. A broad-based needs assessment conducted by the YMCA at that time indicated that volunteer classroom aides and tutors could help teachers address specific academic programs. Today, Vis-A-Vis volunteers make it possible for children who need additional help to get the extra attention they deserve.
Through the years, the program has evolved a great deal to meet the needs of the community and the volunteers, but our mission has remained the same. Vis-A-Vis aims to encourage University of Illinois students to become involved in the broader community in which they live and make a real impact on the future of our young people by contributing to the breadth and depth of their education and to their ability to succeed academically.
In the past, we've also held bake sales and a Bowling for Books program. This has been incredibly successful, and during the 2004-2005 school year alone, we donated over $1300 to local schools in need.
The tremendous time and effort put forth by the Vis-A-Vis staff and volunteers is invaluable to the children of Champaign and Urbana !
a personal message…
Vis-A-Vis is a life changing experience that allows college students, no matter what their major or plans for life, to grow, gain confidence, and have so much fun! Vis-A-Vis is also a great experience for college students looking to gain leadership experience by possibly moving up and taking on the role of coordinator or co-director. Additionally, the volunteers from Vis-A-Vis make such a huge difference in the community (over 5000 hours were volunteered last year) and truly give children at any age the extra attention and assistance that is needed to succeed.
Alpha Phi Omega
Click HERE For a Quick Look into APO's Past!  
Alpha Phi Omega is a national co-ed service fraternity. Our chapter, here at the University of Illinois , was founder on March 31, 1932. Although our chapter's focus has varied over the years, the recurrent themes pervading our actions and behavior are expressed in our three cardinal principles. These principles are Leadership, Friendship, and Service.
We are more than just a fraternity, as our members volunteer for more than 2500 hours every semester in service to the U of I campus, the Urbana-Champaign community, and the youth of all nations. We sell concessions at the Virginia Theater , as well as at Illini football games. We volunteer at the TIMES Center , Swann Special Care, Meadowbrook Park and Busey Woods, the Refugee Center , the YMCA, and numerous other children's events. We assist with several projects for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America and regularly work with the E
astern Illinois Food bank and St. Jude's Catholic Worker House. We keep Green Street beautiful between First and Wright Streets through Adopt-a-Highway. We continuously fundraise for the MDA and run the Etc. Coffeehouse, a substance-free alternative to the bars.
And we're more than just another service organization. APO provides many opportunities for leadership development, including the groundbreaking APO LEADS seminar program, and chapter-run workshops. We also encourage brotherhood among our members by having chapter dinners, parties, and several fellowship events every week. APO is the largest fraternity in the nation, with chapters on over 1400 campuses in the United States and the Philippines . The 2007 year was APO 's 75 th Anniversary.
a personal message…
One of the best parts of Alpha Phi Omega is the diverse, dynamic service program. Although we offer regular weekly events, as well as one-time projects, our service program is constantly changing based on the interests of our chapter members. If there's something you love to do, some organization that's near and dear to your heart, we can add that project into our program. What's more, as we offer a service project almost every day of the week and several on the weekends, it's easy to fit volunteering into the busiest of schedules. Moreover, we're more than just a service organization, as we encourage fellowship between members through our many non-service-oriented events. It's great getting to know those who you volunteer with–and volunteering with your friends!
Habitat For Humanity
Click HERE For a Quick Look into Habitat's Past! .
Our University's chapter works with the Champaign County chapter of Habitat to end poverty housing right here in Champaign and Urbana . Since starting in 1992, the students have sponsored and helped complete 7 houses. This year, the student chapter is building its 8 th home for the Sweid family. When not working on a student house, the students build with the local chapter, fundraise, work with Habitat families through the Family Connections committee, and raise awareness about homelessness and poverty housing. During Spring Break, we also send trips to different states to build with other Habitat affiliates. Our Mission is to end substandard housing in partnership with the campus and surrounding community by connecting with families, education, building, and fundraising.
a personal message…
There are many ways to get involved with Habitat for Humanity. Habitat is made up of many committees that offer a variety of outlets to lead and serve in the community. If you have any questions about how you can become a part of our organization, don't hesitate to contact us. To find out about each committee or to contact a specific Habitat board member, please visit our web site at http://habitat.union.uiuc.edu
How to Get Involved
If you are part of a Registered Student Organization at the University of Illinois and would like your group's service endeavors and accomplishments featured in OVP's Yearbook of Service, please email the following information to ovp@uiuc.edu:
1. Name, e-mail, name of organization, organization's contact information
2. Organization's mission
3. Detailed summary of organization's service endeavors and goals for the past year
4. Any pictures or documents from the organization
If you would like to start an archived history of your organization, please contact Ellen Swain, the
Archivist for Student Life and Culture at the University of Illinois, at
eswain@uiuc.edu.
Copyright 2002 Office of Volunteer Programs.
Send comments to ovp@uiuc.edu |
