Students to Participate in Third Annual Pitt Make a Difference Day Oct. 16

PITTSBURGH—With the support of faculty and staff, 3,600 University of Pittsburgh students will roll up their sleeves to participate in the third annual Pitt Make A Difference Day (PMADD) Oct. 16 in Oakland and the surrounding communities, with check-in beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the William Pitt Union, 3959 Fifth Ave., Oakland. The number of registered participants has already increased by 50 percent over last year. 

Volunteers will take one of 60 buses, scheduled to depart at 9:15 a.m., to various Pittsburgh locations where they will work until 2 p.m. on such community-service projects as trail and street cleanup, graffiti removal, food pantry shelf stocking, and assistance at community centers and retirement homes. 

“Pittsburgh is a great city, and it’s a great feeling to see students come together and give back to the city we call home,” said Pitt student Matthew W. Koller, chair of the PMADD coordinating committee. “By going into the communities to volunteer, students exemplify their pride in the University and in their community.” 

Pitt Student Government Board created PMADD with support from the Division of Student Affairs. Modeled after the National Make a Difference Day, PMADD provides an opportunity for Pitt students to enhance their roles as leaders in communitywide volunteerism and service, foster collaboration across student organizations, unify the Oakland campus, and inspire Pitt Pride. 

Students who participate in PMADD will receive community-service credit towards their Outside the Classroom Curriculum transcript. 

For more information on Pitt Make A Difference Day, contact Koller at 724-875-4538 or Matthew.W.Koller@gmail.com. 

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10/13/10/tmw/lks