St. Louis’ Most At-Risk Students Give Back to the Community with Two-Day Volunteer Blitz

WHO: 100+ students in the College Bound program

(10th grade high school students through college/university seniors)

WHAT: There’s no such thing as a summer break for the students of College Bound, the

award-winning college access organization that works with and empowers St. Louis’ most at-risk high school students to complete college degrees and prepare to enter the work force.

College Bound is keeping its students active and engaged this summer with a two-day volunteer blitz, which allows the students to give back to the local community in various ways and exemplify both sides to giving and receiving.

On Friday, June 22 - Saturday, June 23, College Bound students will be giving back to the community, doing a range of community service activities from helping the elderly residents of Saint Louis with household maintenance through SGSM Network to serving food to the homeless at the Gateway 180 Homeless Shelter in the historic Carr Square neighborhood of the City’s 5th Ward.

A large component of College Bound is its Culture, Character and Capacity program, which focuses on service and enrichment opportunities. Despite coming from under-resourced backgrounds, students are taught the importance of giving back and engaging in community service. It is part of College Bound’s overall mission of preparing its students to be successful in gaining college admission, graduating from college and preparing for life beyond.

WHEN: Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23

TIME: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

The first project will begin 9:00 am each day and the last project will end at 7:00 pm.

WHERE: Students will be volunteering with the following charities at these locations:

• Gateway 180 Homeless Shelter (Friday & Saturday, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm) 100 N. 19th Street, St. Louis, MO 63106

• Habitat for Humanity: ReStore (Friday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm)

3763 Forest Park Ave., St. Louis 63108

• SGSM Network (Friday & Saturday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm)

South Grand neighborhood – contact for more information

• YMCA: Carondelet Location (Saturday, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm)

600 Loughborough Avenue, St. Louis 63111

• Crisis Nursery (Friday & Saturday, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm)

1928 Gravois Avenue, St. Louis 63104

MEDIA OPPS:

• B-roll of College Bound students serving food and working with children in a homeless shelter and emergency shelter, help with book sorting, and assisting the elderly with household maintenance.
• Interviews with College Bound students about importance of giving and receiving assistance and participating in community service
• Interviews with College Bound staff members

(All events will be run by College Bound staff members with the support from several community volunteers and nominated student leaders from the College Bound program.)

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College Bound

College Bound is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is fully funded by generous supporters who share in the belief of the transformative power of higher education. There is no cost to the students, families, and schools College Bounds serves. Since its founding in 2006, College Bound has been recognized for its impressive programs and outstanding results in university enrollment and success for under-resourced youth. It was awarded the What’s Right With The Region Award in May 2007 for “Creating Quality Educational Opportunities.” Lisa Orden Zarin was also awarded the Progressive Youth Connection’s World of Children Award for “Education” in March 2011. College Bound has been a featured presenter at national conferences including the American Youth Policy Forum, the National College Access Network National Conference, and the National Conference of the Educational Policy Institute. For more information on College Bound, please visit www.collegeboundstl.org.