By Steve Seepersaud
"The volunteer alumni and guests who came to my home were beyond amazing," said Marjorie Strelzyn-Witt ’81. "They were warm, dedicated and successful people, as I find most Binghamton alumni are!"
Strelzyn-Witt hosted alumni at her Westchester County, N.Y., home April 22, to create gift baskets with items for rescue animals at the local SPCA shelter. It was not a mere coincidence that her group of volunteers was entirely Binghamton alumni. Her project was part of Alumni Global Days of Service, an initiative uniting Binghamton graduates in community service. The goals are to bring alumni together for an endeavor that is meaningful and fun, and also to make ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ more visible through the volunteers' collective impact.
In total, Alumni Global Days of Service had about 25 group projects led by Binghamton alumni in places such as New York, Binghamton, Washington, North Carolina and California. Alumni who were unable to participate in a group effort — if distance or scheduling made it prohibitive — could volunteer on their own and have their service counted. In total, more than 250 alumni participated.
"I've always felt giving back is one of the most important practices we can do in life," Strelzyn-Witt said. "It keeps us human. It bonds us. It’s rewarding and very uplifting. I think that's why I chose my profession in healthcare and why I've worked at Montefiore Hospital for over 30 years. It's also why my husband and I created the Acts of Kindness (AOK) Scholarship at ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ so students can be recognized for their benevolent ways."
Brian Rudolph '10 led a group of alumni volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House of Albany, which provides a home away from home — at no charge — for families with children facing serious medical issues.
"Our volunteer project involved on-site support that included room cleaning and maintenance," Rudolph said. "We were happy to volunteer on behalf of Binghamton and future families in need of services. Representing our alma mater in our local community gives us the opportunity to showcase what we learned during our time as students: service, compassion and community engagement."
Matt Symons '93 works for NYC Parks where he's responsible for about 900 acres of natural areas in Northeast Queens. His Alumni Global Days of Service project combined his love of ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ with his love of the city's parks. Symons led the 54th Annual Udalls Cove Park Cleanup in the Little Neck section of Queens. Volunteers removed more than 30 cubic yards — a large dumpster's worth — of debris from the shoreline.
"As I reflect on the 30 years since I graduated, I like to think about how the interests that I developed in my four years at Binghamton have kept me motivated over my 28 years working for NYC Parks," Symons said. "I think about friends I made and choices in classes and major, all of which put me in a position to be mentored by iconic environmental studies professors like the great Dick Andrus."
In Brooklyn, the Alumni of Color Network came together for a celebration of Alumni Global Days of Service and Earth Day. For the second straight year, the group partnered with New York City Green Thumb and East New York Garden Advocates — an organization led by Ameria Alleyne '08 — on a community garden project in East New York.
"The Alumni of Color Network celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion, and prioritizes engagement with diverse communities," said Jermel McClure ’18, who led the volunteer project. "East New York is a very diverse neighborhood. We enjoy giving back to communities that reflect our organization's diversity. Additionally, when participating in community service, we find it essential to volunteer where our efforts can have the most significant impact. Volunteering in East New York allowed us to assist the city's largest network of community gardens. We look forward to continued collaboration in the future."