Be the Change

Quotes from BTC 2009 "This was an eye opening experience for me.  I can't believe about 20 of us in an hour did enough work to feed 1,800 families." -Tom Abraham, BTC Volunteer,  Rutgers University - New Brunswick "I just wanted to sincerely  thank you for choosing us as a recipient of the Day of Service. What the volunteers did in 4 hours would have taken me a year to do, literally."    -Service Site, Washington, DC  National Partners of Be the Change 2009       Sponsors of Be the Change 2009

Click here to view pictures from Be the Change 2009!

Check out our Press Release!

*Email your pictures to btc2009@saalt.org!

Be the Change 2009

Nearly 3,000 participants around the country marked the first Saturday of October by giving back to their communities through Be the Change, SAALT's National Day of Service. On October 3, community members including students, retirees, and professionals contributed their time and energy to service activities in Atlanta, Boston, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., as well in over 50 other cities and campuses.
 
"SAALT's Be the Change National Day of Service takes place annually near Mahatma Gandhi's birthday to commemorate his message of community service and action," explained Aaditi Dubale, SAALT's National Be the Change Coordinator.  "This year, volunteers participated in a variety of notable activities including restoring a water-damaged food pantry in Rhode Island; constructing homes in Detroit and Alabama; assisting with the Boston Pancreatic Research Walk; and registering individuals to join the Be the Match Bone Marrow Registry nationwide."

Participants echoed Mahatma Gandhi's messages of compassion and service when they spoke about the day's impact:

"By being involved in the community, we not only give our lives perspective but we create a better world for all members of our community to live in.  I really value that we, as South Asians, come together every year in support of this mission."
- Washington, DC

"The day was very inspirational to help others in the way Gandhi intended us to do so."
- Wayne State University

"Volunteerism is a selfless service... there is no contract."
- Jacksonville, FL

"This was my first time at a Be the Change event and I was amazed to see the energy in people so early in the morning on a Saturday. I realized sometimes all it takes is to make a commitment."
- Maryland

"I hope this event will encourage more students to engage in philanthropic giving and inspire students to regularly take part in volunteering opportunities like this."
- University of Indiana

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Where is Be the Change 2009?

Cities:
Atlanta
Austin
Boston
Chicago
East Brunswick, NJ
Ft. Lauderdale
Hartford, CT
Jacksonville, FL
Murray, KY
New York City
North Brunswick, NJ
Philadelphia
San Francisco
Springfield, MA
Washington, DC

Colleges/Universities:

Baruch College
Baylor University
Boston University
Brookdale Community College
Brown University
Columbia University
Drexel University
East Tennessee State University
Emory University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida International University
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgia Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Hofstra University
Indiana University
Long Island University
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Michigan State University
Midwestern University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New York Law School
New York University
North Carolina State University
Northeastern University
Ohio State University
Pace University
Pennsylvania State University
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Rutgers University - Newark
Santa Clara University
Seton Hall University
South Dakota State University
St. Johns University
SUNY Binghamtom University
SUNY Stony Brook University
Temple University
Texas A&M University
Texas Tech University
The College of New Jersey
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Arizona
University of California - Hastings College of Law
University of Central Florida
University of Connecticut
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Houston
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky - Lexington
University of Maryland - College Park
University of Miami
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
University of Oklahoma
University of Pennsylvania
University of Rochester
University of South Florida
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Virginia
Vanderbilt University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech
Washington College of Law
Wayne State University
Williams College

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Resources

SAALT Be the Change Intro Video
Be the Change 2009:  Liability Form
Be the Change 2009 Survey
Be the Change 2009: Quarter-sheets
Instructions for Hosting a Bone Marrow Drive
Be the Change 2009 Guide
Be the Change 2009 Flyer
Be the Change 2009 Postcard - Front
Be the Change 2009 Postcard - Back

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SAALT thanks Jonas Angelet for creating our Be the Change 2009 logo! Originally from Kentucky, Jonas Angelet is a gifted graphic artist with a bachelors and master's degree in Fine Arts. Angelet has worked as a graphic designer and artist for such agencies as Legacies of War, Give Children A Choice, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, Beats & Life, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, in addition to several community-based organizations. According to Angelet he enjoys "that type of work because it is rewarding to work with organizations that aim to improve and empower communities through activism." Currently, Angelet lives in the DC area with his wife. For more information about Angelet and his work, please visit his website at www.jonasangelet.com.