SFU Alumni Day of Service

Date: Saturday, June 18, 2011

Whether it be protecting the environment, helping those who are disadvantaged, or a multitude of other causes, the SFU Alumni Association’s Board of Directors are asking all SFU Alumni to participate in our second annual Day of Service on Saturday, June 18th, 2011. SFU President Andrew Petter is proud of the fact that SFU is a community-engaged institution, and we're keen to demonstrate that our alumni carry that same perspective within their local communities.

Last year alumni from across the world participated and shared some of their stories with us. Have a peek to become inspired!
[View some stories from last year] [View photos from last year's participants]

The premise:
By volunteering your time in your local community to make a difference, you’ll help showcase the impact that SFU grads are making in the world. With over 110,000 alumni living in more than 130 different countries, the potential volunteer impact we can make in positive and meaningful ways is enormous.

Share your stories with us of where and how you're volunteering so we can track the impact our grads are making in the community.

Simply send us your details and any photos of you in action:

Email: alumni@sfu.ca
Tweet to us: @SFUalumni Use hashtag: "SFUAlumniDOS"
Facebook us: Simon Fraser University Alumni Association

NEW Lower Mainland-based event:

Many of you informed us last year that you'd like us to arrange for alumni to join together and volunteer in one location for a day. As a result, the SFU Alumni Association has joined forces with The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer to provide SFU alumni with an opportunity to collectively give back to their community and the BC Cancer Foundation on Saturday, June 18th, 2011. This event will enable our grads in the lower mainland to volunteer as a group of Route Marshalls for the day, and to help demonstrate that our alumni are thinking of the world and our local communities.

The Ride to Conquer Cancer: [Event Details]

If you're interested in participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer Event, please contact the BC Cancer Foundation's Stephanie Nash at: snash@conquercancer.ca and please cc' alumni@sfu.ca

Thank you in advance for your efforts and enthusiasm!

Why volunteer?

gain practical skills and experience
meet people or practice your language skills
make a difference for a cause that is close to your heart
explore career possibilities
build your network in your areas of interest
contribute to your community and help others

…there are opportunities out there to meet your needs

Some examples of short-term volunteer opportunities

collect and sort food at your local food bank
spend some time reading to seniors in a care home
provide assistance at a local event or charity
feed the homeless at a soup kitchen
contribute to building a home for the less fortunate
collect litter from your local park or beach
care for animals at your local SPCA

Looking for a good fit?

SFU's Volunteer Services area has compiled resources to help those interested in volunteering to figure out what roles would be a good fit for your interests and personality. [Learn more]

How to find a volunteer opportunity:

GoVolunteer.ca	This online database managed by Vantage Point (formerly Volunteer Vancouver) has a collection of up-to-date positions with local organizations in Metro Vancouver. You can search by the type of activity you are looking for or by the type of organization you want to volunteer for, as well as by when and where you are available.
VolWeb.ca	Registering on this site allows you to find out about a variety of events from major international sport tournaments to community festivals and fundraisers that are all actively looking for volunteers. Most event-based volunteer opportunities are short term commitments, making them easy to fit into your already busy schedule. After you register you will be guided to opportunities that fit your schedule, location, interests, languages, and skills.
RedBook Online	This online database is a resource of all community service groups in a variety of communities, including non-profit agencies, advocacy groups, health care facilities, social clubs offering community service, and professional associations. You can search by city and key words to find organizations that interest you.
Volunteer BC	This website contains a list of all the volunteer centres in BC, some of which advertise volunteer opportunities unique to their community. There are also many volunteer-related workshops and events offered.
Volunteer Canada	This website can direct you to volunteer centres in most provinces and territories if you live outside of Metro Vancouver.
Charity Village	This website features volunteer positions as well as news and resources for the non-profit sector.