Throughout the year, the university’s student-run emergency medical service (EMS) provides medical support to faculty, staff and students. In 2013, 60 members of the campus community gave back to the organization by donating nearly $500 through Case Western Reserve’s first-ever foray into the international #GivingTuesday movement.
Today, the CWRU EMS group is among 16 campus causes that members of the Case Western Reserve community can support as part of #GivingTuesdayatCWRU. The idea behind #GivingTuesday is to put the spirit of giving back into the holiday season after major shopping days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Last year, donors made 247 gifts totaling $7,735 to 15 campus causes during Giving Tuesday.
“For CWRU, Giving Tuesday is a celebration of the impact that our university has on society. We all should be extremely proud that every day our faculty, staff and students are making a difference in the life of the greater community,” said Larry Gibson, associate vice president of University Relations and Development. “This is an opportunity to give thanks for and give back to the many areas across campus that are helping to make us great by doing good.”
With the funding received last year, the students’ EMS purchased a new stretcher and stocked two ambulances with necessary supplies. This year, all donations to the organization will go toward expanding from weeknight and weekend assistance to 24/7 service, sophomore Ryan Rego said.
Other campus causes include:
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center: Help the center identify ways to detect cancer early, develop new drugs and therapies, and improve care and access for all.
- College of Arts and Sciences Student Scholarships: Help ensure the college can recruit and retain the best and brightest students through scholarships.
- Center for Civic Engagement & Learning (CCEL): Expand “Alternative Break” opportunities for students to provide community service around the world—and make these breaks affordable for students of all income levels.
- Design for America: Provide financial support for students to help solve local social design problems, from improving driving for adults with disabilities to expanding food choices for young children.
- Engineers Without Borders: Support the organization’s trip to the Dominican Republic, where students will continue to build a water treatment and distribution system.
- The Flora Stone Mather Center for Women at CWRU: Provide research fellowships and internship scholarships for CWRU students who aim to advance gender equity and/or improve the lives of women through their work.
- Graduate Business Students Association: Support Weatherhead School of Management business students with the opportunity for community-service activities, professional development, employer engagement and more.
- Habitat for Humanity: Support the group’s winter break trip to construct quality, affordable homes.
- Labre Homeless Outreach Program: Help students serve the homeless population of Greater Cleveland in a variety of ways, from providing hot meals to offering blankets, clothing and toiletry items.
- LGBT Center: Expand the Safe Zone program, a network of volunteers dedicated to creating a community of respect for LGBT students, faculty and staff.
- Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Unity Scholarship Fund: Provide underrepresented students with an opportunity for diverse interaction and cultural education outside the classroom, such as studying abroad, service experiences or internships.
- School of Dental Medicine’s Healthy Smiles Sealant Program: Support the program, which provides Cleveland Metropolitan School District students with free dental examinations, protective sealant for cavity-free teeth and health education.
- School of Law’s Laura Chisholm Social Justice Fellowship: Support an endowed fellowship for law students in the name and memory of Chisolm, a professor at the law school who passed away in 2011.
- Student-Run Free Clinic: Be part of a $50,000 match donation to expand the clinic’s outreach service to the uninsured Greater Cleveland Community.
- WISER – Women in Science & Engineering: Foster the growth of women pursuing STEMM-related careers at Case Western Reserve through outreach and career-building events.
To learn more about the programs involved in #GivingTuesdayatCWRU or to make a gift to a cause, visit case.edu/giving/annual/giving-tuesday.html.