Community Service
The Philadelphia Chapter offers a number of opportunities to serve our community. If you have an idea or opportunity please contact our Community Service Chair, Christina Moresi at service@pennstatephilly.org
If you prefer to volunteer in a specific section of the Philadelphia area, please let us know. We will be looking at the top suggested section first if or when we are given an option to select our work site location. Thank you for your time and service!
All organizations that we work with required us to register a specific amount of volunteers. In an effort to ensure everyone is able to join us, let us know which events you are interested in attending. If you know you can join an event or if you want to join an event, but cannot commit at this time, email Christina.
Our organization of and participation in community service events allows the Penn State Alumni Association, Philadelphia Chapter to continue our mission of, “uniting and maintaining a network of Penn State alumni, while giving back to the community…”
Service Events At-a-Glance (See Below for Details)
Next Event
July 16, 2013- Go State… Squash Hunger!
6 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Philabundance Hunger Relief Center, 3616 S. Galloway St. Philadelphia, PA 19148
Ongoing Events
Make a Scholarship Donation
The Hope Express: Shop for Hope
Events At-A-Glance
July 16, 2013- Philabundance Volunteer Day, 6 p.m.- 8:30 p.m., Hunger Relief Center, 3616 S. Galloway St 19148
September 2013- The Virtual HOPE Express
Football Season- Raffles and fundraisers during Game Watches supporting Penn State Hershey Center for the Protection of Children, Liberty Ball (Four Diamonds Fund) and Philadelphia Chapter Scholarship during Game Watches at Field House and Mad River Manayunk
October 2013- To Be Determined
November 2013- Food & Pet Food Drive benefiting Philabundance and Philadoptables during Game Watch
Thanksgiving- Membership supported Thanksgiving dinner shopping and donation to a select Philadelphia family
November 25-29, 2013 - Food & Pet Food Drop Off, 6:30 p.m. at WMMR’s Camp Out For Hunger at the Metroplex in Plymouth Meeting
December 7, 2013- Fill Philabundance!, 12;30- 3:30 at the Hunger Relief Center, 3616 South Galloway St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
January 18, 2014- Martin Luther King Day of Service
October 2013- February 13, 2014- The Hope Express: Letters of Hope
March 2014- PhillyGoes2College’s College and Scholarship Application Workshop
April 2014- Philly Spring Clean Up
May 2014- Love Your Park Day, Spring Edition
To RSVP for these events, contact our Community Service Director, Christina, at Service@pennstatephilly.org.
14 Volunteer Spaces Available!
Philabundance
Date: July 16, 2013
Time: 6 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Place: Philabundance’s Hunger Relief Center
Description: Volunteers will join other volunteer groups in sorting, stacking, and packing donated food to be distributed to food centers throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. Please wear sneakers. No open-toed shoes allowed in the warehouse. Children 14 and older are welcome.
Time: TBA
Place: TBD
To Be Announced
Date: October 2013
Time: TBD
Place: TBD
Description: October is the month that we usually participate in Philly Cares Day. However, because of the Greater Philadelphia Cares and United Way merger, the structure of Philly Cares Day, now Community Cares Day, doesn’t allow for us to volunteer in the same way that we have in the past. If you have an idea or opportunity for October, please contact our Community Service Chair, Christina Moresi at service@pennstatephilly.org.
Food & Pet Food Drive benefiting Philabundance & Philadoptables
Date: November 2012
Time: During Game Watch
Place: Field House (1150 Filbert St.)
Description: Join us for a special Game Watch at Field House (1150 Filbert St.) as we collect non-perishable food items for Philabundance and dry and canned dog and cat food for Philadoptables. Receive a free raffle ticket to win a $50 Field House gift card when you donate.
Additional Information: Below is a list of the most-needed non-perishable foods for Philabundance and Philadoptables- Please choose products that are in boxes, cans or plastic bottles (or cans and bags for pet food) and that do not have to be refrigerated. Bread and baked goods are not suitable because of their short shelf life. Items should be recently purchased and in good condition.
Penn State Hershey Center for the Protection of Children
Liberty Ball (Four Diamonds Fund)
Philadelphia Chapter Scholarship
Date: PSU Football Tail-Greats
Time: During PSU Football Games
Place: Mad River or Field House
Description: Community service is giving what you can, however you can, to support others. Sometimes it requires hard labor such as cleaning a local park or sorting donated food, but sometimes it’s as easy as buying a beer at Mad River or Field House during a Penn State football game. Because we are unable to volunteer as a team for many amazing organizations we would love to support, such as Penn State Hershey Center for the Protection of Children and the Four Diamonds Fund, the way we do at Philabundance or for MLK or Love Your Park days, we had to think of other ways to give. So, when you join us at any of our Tail-Greats, you will be supporting three great causes- Penn State Hershey Center for the Protection of Children, the Four Diamonds Fund through Liberty Ball, and Philadelphia Chapter Scholarship. If you would like more information on how you can directly serve these organizations through individual service or donations, click on the organization’s link or contact our Community Service Director at service@pennstatephilly.org. For a detailed Tail-Great schedule with corresponding organization benefits, click here.
Thanksgiving Dinner Shopping & Donation
Your membership dollars are at work! Thanks to your membership to the Philadelphia Chapter, the Chapter will be able to provide a select family with a full Thanksgiving dinner. For more information or how you can help, contact our Community Service Director, Christina, at service@pennstatephilly.org.
Food & Pet Food Drop Off at WMMR’s Camp Out for Hunger
Date: November 25-29, 2012
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Metroplex Shopping Center in Plymouth Meeting, PA
Description: Join us at the Metroplex in Plymouth Meeting, PA (look for tents across from the Giant) as we drop off the food collected during a Game Watch at WMMR’s Camp Out for Hunger (benefiting Philabundance and Philadoptables) and enjoy WMMR’s scheduled festivities as well as their live broadcast.
Philabundance
Date: December 7, 2013
Time: 12:30-3:30
Place: Philabundance’s Hunger Relief Center
Description: Volunteers will join other volunteer groups in sorting, stacking, and packing donated food to be distributed to food centers throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. Please wear sneakers. No open-toed shoes allowed in warehouse.
Additional Information: Join us after our shift (about 3:45) for a special Happy Hour at Chickies & Pete’s Crab House and Sports Bar. Those who were unable to make it to Philabundance but would like to join us for Happy Hour are also welcome.
Martin Luther King Day of Service
Date: January 18, 2014
Time: TBA
Place: TBD
Description: Volunteers will join us at a work site to be determined soon and help the neighbors of that community prepare for spring by collecting trash and recycling, painting, cleaning graffiti, etc. in parks, along streets and/or at schools. Last year, volunteers joined the Unitarian Society of Germantown at the Six Senses Collaborative Clay Studio to make ceramic bowls for the Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network’s (NPIHN) 2013 Empty Bowl Dinner.
The Hope Express: Letters of Hope
Support HE Runners with inspiring letters, cards, art and emails as they run 135 (Hope Team) and 140 (Extreme Team) miles through the cold, snowy mountains of Central PA to deliver letters from the children on the 7th Floor to THON dancers.
Date: Octorber 2013- February 13, 2013
Time: Ongoing
Place: Mail and Email
Date: February 13, 2014 (Hope Runs Again)
Time: 7 p.m. -7 p.m.
Place: HMC’s 7th Floor to the Bryce Jordan Center
Miles: 135 (Hope Team) 140 (Extreme Team)
Description: Since the inception of The Hope Express Morale Team in 2011, board members Ami Patel, Christina Moresi, and Taryn Correll and Liberty Ball Chair Darla Zecchin have worked closely with The Hope Express to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund, support The Hope Express and morale runners as they relay run from the 7th floor of the Hershey Medical Center to the THON stage at the Bryce Jordan Center, carrying letters and art from the children at Hershey who were too sick to attend THON. Before The Hope Express leaves Hershey February 14, 2013, we welcome donations to support a runner or moraler of your choice or The Hope Express as a whole (all donations go to The Four Diamonds Fund and the THON total) as well as letters, cards, and art of support for the runners and/or The Hope Express’ Four Diamond children and families. Send mail to Hope Express: Letters of Hope c/o The Philadelphia Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, P.O. Box 22402 – Philadelphia, PA 19110. For more information on this ongoing event, contact Christina at service@pennstatephilly.org.
PhillyGoes2College’s College and Scholarship Application Workshop
Date: March 2013
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Place: Temple University, Tuttleman Learning Center—Basement Computer Labs (13th and Montgomery)
Description: Volunteers will work with the high school students and offering counseling and application support.
Additional Information: PhillyGoes2College requests that volunteers be “individuals who have successfully applied to college and/or scholarships. They should be enthusiastic about helping high school students accomplish their academic goals, be able to think quickly on their feet, and commit to the full 3 hours.”
Students come with varying levels of experience in the process and, while volunteers will receive a quick training the day of the event, they are expected to be comfortable working with minimal direction and supervision.
Date: April 2013
Time: 9:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m.
Place: TBD
Description: Philly Spring Clean Up is an annual event that brings volunteers to sites through the city to clean up and “Keep up the sweep up.” Volunteers will join us at a work site to be determined soon and help the neighbors of that community to collect trash and recycling, paint, clean graffiti, etc. in parks, along streets and/or at schools. In 2013, volunteers helped the Wyck Historic House, Garden and Farm (a member benefit), prepare for spring by weeding Wyck’s historic rose garden, farm beds and paths, collecting trash and recyclables, mulching a new shade garden, creating flower beds for neighborhood kids to plant.
Love Your Park Day, Spring Edition
Date: May 2014
Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Place: TBA
Description: LOVE Your Park is the biannual volunteer park clean-up day in Philadelphia with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and PHS. Volunteers will support one of park in the Fairmount Park system and its neighbors, to collect trash and recycling, paint, clean graffiti, etc. In 2013, volunteers supported Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse with moving and spreading gravel to help manager their stormwater run-off.
Join us After! Volunteers are welcome to join us after the clean-up for a stroll down the Schuylkill River Trail to the Dad Vail Regatta to meet up with other Penn Staters and cheer on Penn State Crew.
The Philadelphia Chapter would like to send a special THANK YOU to our 2011-2012 Service Team and growing 2012-2013 Service Team. Your service has helped to make Philly great and exemplify the true Penn State spirit. Thank you!
2012-2013 Service Team Members: Alex Rodden, Amanda Collett, Ami Patel, Andrea Scioscia, Andreea Micu, Anna Davitt, April Haas, Ben Ballence, Brian Costello, Brian DiMattesa, Brittany Barbato, Catherine Theisen, Chelsea Conway, Chirag Amin, Chris Sweeney, Christina Moresi, Christine Prifti, Christopher Godwin, Christopher Pilla, Danielle DiMattesa, Dianna Gross, Emily Decker, Eric Prouty, Gene Coletta, HalleyPark, Jason Mullen, Jean-Gabriel Coignet, Jen Curran, Joanne Ahn, Joel Ravitch, John Zagurski, Justin Rodden, Karen Eizman, Kate Crawford, Kimberly Papay, Kirstin McGowan, Kathy Thomas, Keith Torrey, Kimberly Linden, Leah Milito, Leslie Hopper,Louis Muccia, Luke DiMattesa, Maggie McCormick, Margi Linden, Maribeth Wicoff, Marina Zambrotta, Mark Wicoff, Mary Fitzgerald, Matt Huber, Megan Collins, Megan Delany, Michel Medina, Michele Ravitch, Mike Patitucci, Mike Webber, Nikki Kemper, Philip Bixby, Rachel Ravitch, Rebecca DiMattesa, Sara Ravitch, Sean McGowan, Siobhan Cooney, Stephanie Lidd, Taryn Correll, Tiffany, Tom Holena, Tricia Wetzel, Tyler Doppelheuer, Wayne Snover, Zach Galante
2011-2012 Service Team Members: Ami, Becky, Brian, Brittany, Bob, Chris, Chrissy, Christina, Danielle, Dianna, Jeff, Juliet, Karen, Kathryn, Layla, Luke, Maribeth, Matt, Nicolas, Pete, Rachel, Susan, Taryn, and Zach.
