An estimated 85 people joined together in the Alumni Memorial Union Thursday night to commemorate Hunger Clean-Up’s 25th anniversary at a benefit that granted three $3,000 grants to nonprofits in the city.
Among the guests included the Rev. Daniel Hendrickson, associate provost for academic initiatives, who came to Marquette as a young freshman in August 1989. Hendrickson took part in Hunger Clean-Up’s second-ever annual Day of Service in 1990.
“I’m thrilled that the energy and interest (in this organization) has persisted in such a genuine way for this service-based university,” Hendrickson said at the benefit.
Funds raised during the dinner and silent auction will help offset the cost of preparing for the Day of Service and for the grants themselves. To recognize past grant winners who were positively impacted by the student organization’s work, Genise Lindner, communications director at Pathfinders (one of last year’s grant recipients) opened the ceremony.
“It’s good to be back in the Union,” said the Marquette alumna. “Things have changed a bit, but Hunger Clean-Up’s mission has not. Last year, Marquette students built garden beds. But you did more than that. You planted seeds of hope in the youth that we serve.”
Presentations from this year’s grant recipients followed Lindner’s speech. Representatives from the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, COA Youth and Family Centers, and Project Concern explained to the audience how Marquette’s Day of Service affected the organization in the following months.
Emily Runnoe and Danielle Schiestle, sophomores in the College of Health Sciences and co-coordinators of this year’s event, lead a leadership team of eight students who organized this year’s largest Day of Service. Last year, 1,500 students worked at 45 different agencies throughout the city. A maximum of 1,900 students can participate.
“Tonight’s event captured Hunger Clean-Up and what we are all about,” said Bree Fallio, a committee member and sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Hunger Clean-Up, which will be held April 26 this year, is sponsored Sodexo, US Bank, MGIC Mortgage Insurance and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
