Community service is a big part of a high-impact Adelphi education. It’s an experience that affects both the head and the heart. It’s also a factor in career development, as employers are increasingly looking to hire young people who have shown a commitment to volunteering.

Adelphi gives students ample opportunity to give back, with service programs on campus, in the local community and abroad throughout the year. It even helps incoming students get into the act before classes begin through the First-Year Community Action Program (FCAP). Around 90 new students participate each August, working on projects in nearby towns. This year, a number of those students proceeded to Adelphi’s new Service-Learning Community, living with other first-year students who are dedicated to volunteering; the students study together as well, taking a special course that incorporates service-learning trips around Long Island.

Campus organizations provide students from all classes with weekly opportunities to serve. The largest is C.A.L.I.B.E.R., which has volunteers work with children at Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, senior citizens in nursing homes, students in high schools and others throughout the local community. Adelphi’s chapter of Circle K International also connects students to local service projects, including fundraising efforts for charities like the March of Dimes.

Service is a major part of Greek life on campus, as all fraternities and sororities devote considerable time to philanthropic efforts. Athletics teams have taken the lead, too. Men’s basketball created Selfless Sundays, with players volunteering at local hospitals and foundations and hosting basketball clinics for children. Softball, field hockey, and track and field teams participate in a wide range of events, including charity walks and runs.

Volunteering is a year-round pursuit at Adelphi, but activity peaks every March during Adelphi Gives Back Month. Organized by the Center for Student Involvement, the month begins with the Panther Day of Service, offering a wide range of projects in neighboring communities. The month continues with daily opportunities for working with local organizations serving people with special needs, senior citizens and young children; students can also volunteer on environmental projects and on the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program.

The biggest event of the year comes just after Adelphi Gives Back Month with the annual Relay for Life in early April. Dedicated to raising money for cancer research and cancer patients, the 12-hour event attracts around 1,000 participants each year in a quest to raise $50,000. This year’s Relay for Life will be held on Saturday, April 6, from 3:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., and is open to all members of the community.

“Our students are interested in so many types of service, and we try to provide opportunities to meet all of them, not only in March, but throughout the year,” said Arianna Livreri, a Center for Student Involvement assistant director. “We also hold a Community Service Fair every semester, giving students the chance to explore volunteering and internship opportunities at local organizations.”