FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saint Mary’s Celebrates Volunteerism with Down the Avenue
Media contact:
Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
(574) 284-4579
June 9, 2011 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—About 350 invited business and community leaders, alumnae, and friends will gather at Saint Mary’s College on Wednesday, June 15 for Down the Avenue. The event will begin at 6 p.m. in Noble Family Dining Hall of the Student Center. The gala—which was also held in 2002, 2005 and 2007—honors volunteer leadership in the Michiana community; establishes an endowed scholarship for active student volunteers; and raises money to support the programs of the College’s Office for Civic and Social Engagement (OCSE), which facilitates the College’s volunteer efforts in the community. The amount of money raised for the scholarship and OCSE will be announced that night. The event is called Down the Avenue in reference to “The Avenue”, which is the street that runs through campus.
As part of the evening’s festivities, Saint Mary’s will recognize three women with the Spirit of Service Award: Community Honoree, Carmen Murphy; Student Honoree, Alma Bravo ‘12; and Sisters of the Holy Cross Honoree, Sister Susan Kintzele ‘64, CSC.
“Down the Avenue is a way for us to celebrate the interconnection among the College, the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and the local community,” said Carolyne Call, Director of OCSE. “Our three award winners serve as examples of what it means to live with a heart of service on a daily basis. They also serve as inspiration for us to look around us and see how we too can make a difference in the lives of people in need. These women remind me of what it really means to love our neighbors as Jesus called us to do.”
Down the Avenue raises funds to support OCSE’s work. This unique resource center encourages students, faculty, and staff to give of themselves and their gifts through programs in volunteer service and community engagement. More than 80% of Saint Mary's College students participate in volunteer service by the time they graduate and OCSE is nationally recognized for its community engagement. The office carries out its mission through partnerships with schools and agencies in the Michiana community and provides a core of Saint Mary’s College volunteers who are a vital source of help and relief to those in need. Proceeds from Down the Avenue will also be used to endow a scholarship named for Carmen Murphy, the Spirit of Service Community Honoree, for Saint Mary’s students who are active volunteers.
About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, women’s institution offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study. Saint Mary’s College has six nationally accredited academic programs: social work, art, music, teacher education, chemistry and nursing. Saint Mary's College ranks among the top 100 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” in the U.S. News & World Report 2011 College Guide. Founded in 1844, Saint Mary’s is a pioneer in the education of women, and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.