Community Service Projects Celebrate the
Spirit of St. Edward's

Service. It's part of the spirit of St. Edward's and the university's Holy Cross founders. In October, hundreds of alumni across the country embodied this spirit. Seven Alumni Association chapters volunteered for various Founder's Day community service projects - helping others while honoring the university's Holy Cross heritage.

"The university has a long tradition of honoring Founder's Day and the Feast of St. Edward each October, canceling classes for a day so that students, faculty and staff can join together in a large-scale service event," notes Robyn Post, associate director of Alumni and Parent Programs. "On the suggestion of Robert Oppermann, '56, one of our Alumni Board members, we've strengthened the tradition. Now, alumni chapters across the country participate in Founder's Day events."

Lending a Hand to Help Others
Many of the alumni groups worked to benefit local organizations that provide services to those in need. Texas-based organizations included:

• Caritas of Austin (Travis County 's largest non-governmental
  source of assistance)
• Houston Food Bank
• Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley

In Washington, D.C., alumni volunteered at Food & Friends, which supports people with HIV, AIDS and other challenging illnesses.

Volunteers also participated in events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, which raises money for breast cancer research and education, and the Chicago Marathon Expo and Registration, where volunteers helped distribute T-shirts to 15,000 runners whose participation raised money for Chicago-area charities.

Following each service project, alumni were treated to lunch at local restaurants courtesy of the sponsoring chapter.

And in San Antonio, alumni recognized Founder's Day by enjoying lunch with the Holy Cross Brothers at the Brother Charles Andersen Residence, a house of study and preparation for men who have taken their vows and are preparing for the priesthood.