Community service by Fresno State students, faculty, staff and administrators during the 2013-14 academic year exceeded 1 million hours. This is the fifth consecutive year the university community has contributed over 1 million hours of service in a single year. A total of 11,253 volunteers contributed 1,160,064 hours of service to community benefit organizations and community events in the past academic year.

According to philanthropic standards, the estimated economic impact of Fresno State’s community service was greater than $31 million.

Much of Fresno State’s volunteer efforts are coordinated through the Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning, directed by Chris Fiorentino.

“It is a true achievement for the university community to sustain this level of service for five consecutive years,” Fiorentino said. “Over the years we have witnessed time and time again how much service impacts our students while also providing much needed work in the surrounding community.”

Among the dozens of projects and organizations supported this year are Central California Blood Center, Mediator Mentors, Reading and Beyond, Jumpstart, CalState TEACH, Bulldog Pantry and Alternative Spring Break.

Fresno State student-athletes have been recognized each of the past two years with the Mountain West SAAC Community Service Award for the most community service hours served by a school in the Mountain West Conference.

Classes for Fresno State’s 2014-15 academic year start Aug. 21 and Fiorentino believes the campus will maintain its level of engagement. “Our ongoing goal is to surpass 1 million hours of service each year, constantly building on the momentum we have established.”

Kick-starting that effort is the Community Service Opportunities Fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 3 in front of the Kennel Bookstore at Fresno State. More than 2,000 students and others on campus are expected to meet with more than 70 agencies to learn about local volunteer opportunities.

For more information, contact Chris Fiorentino at chrisf@csufresno.edu.

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