For the second consecutive year, Fordham was named to President Barack Obama’s Higher Education Honor Roll for Community Service.
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Fordham was one of about 600 colleges and universities nationwide recognized this month for student service in their surrounding communities. The universities were singled out for their impact on issues from literacy and neighborhood revitalization to supporting at-risk youth.
In 2009-2010, Fordham supported more than 5,039 of its students as they contributed 1,134,956 hours to hundreds of community organizations, schools, not-for-profits and governmental agencies to help strengthen and improve communities. Much of the work took place in the North Bronx, in neighborhoods surrounding Fordham’s Rose Hill campus.
“What these numbers don’t reflect is the depth and intentionality of the relationships forged between all schools across the University and community organizations, not-for-profits and neighborhood associations throughout New York City,” said Sandra Lobo-Jost, director of the Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice, Fordham’s community service program.
Among the programs Fordham students participated in are:
– The Free Tax Preparation Program for low- and moderate-income Bronx residents, done in conjunction with the University Neighborhood Housing Program;
– LIFT the Bronx, a community organization combating poverty in the Bronx through teaching resume writing, interview skills and job hunting support;
– Fordham Kiwanis, a global organization that assists disadvantaged children and supports Key Club in Bronx high schools; and
– Fordham City Squash partnership, which brings students to the campus for an after-school program in tutoring and squash.
Universities are chosen based on innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service and the breadth of academic service-learning credits.
