USC Alumni Day of SCervice - USC Alumni Association

Thank you to all who were a part of Alumni Day of SCervice 2026!

Thousands of Trojans came together to make a difference in their local communities by participating in alumni-led service projects around the world. Your time, energy, and commitment truly made an impact.

Huge thanks to our 2026 sponsor:

Impact Stories

Explore our interactive map to view our 2026 SCervice projects and stay tuned for stories from an incredible day. In the meantime, view stories from past years below or submit your own to be featured.

Clean Up Historic China Alley
Hanford, CA

Benefiting: China Alley Preservation Society
Hosted by: Stephen Takeda ’80

China Alley is more than just a collection of buildings; it is a testament to the resilience, heritage, and contributions of Chinese Americans in the San Joaquin Valley. Coming together to clean, restore, and care for this space, ensures that its stories are not lost to time but are instead honored and shared with future generations.

This project is especially meaningful to me because of my own ties to USC. My father and two of his brothers were USC alumni, and my mother also attended USC. Having the opportunity to work alongside their fellow Trojans to preserve China Alley, is a full-circle moment – connecting my family’s history, their alma mater, and my lifelong commitment to this community.

While we worked, we took a moment to inhale the history that surrounded us. The walls of these buildings have witnessed generations of families, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who shaped this community. The efforts put forth on Service Day are part of the ongoing story, one of the dedication, the service, and the belief that history is worth preserving.

— Arianne Wing

Mentor High School Students
Chicago, IL

Benefiting: Future Ties
Hosted by: Dr. Airies Davis ’16 and Michelle Rizal

On March 22nd, the USC Alumni Day of SCervice in the Midwest Region, led by Dr. Airies Davis of EtiKID Academy LLC and co-hosted by Michelle Carl Rizal of Career Headspace, partnered with FutureTies to host an inspiring Mentor Youth Career Day.

Held at FutureTies’ facility, which serves low-income Chicagoland youth, the event brought together 13 USC alumni, over 40 young participants from FutureTies and IMPACT Lives (a boys’ group home), and four corporate vendors: Peoples Bank, Malcolm X College-City Colleges of Chicago Dental Hygiene Program, Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy (CPFTA), and City Year.

The day was filled with mentorship, skill-building, and career exploration. Attendees benefited from a powerful personal narrative by USC alumnus Gregory Thompson, a career readiness presentation by Dr. Airies Davis, and hands-on skill-building sessions focused on professional headshots, mock interviews, résumé writing, and career readiness. Participants also enjoyed a networking ‘lunch and learn’ provided by Marissa’s HERbachi, a woman-owned business.

This impactful event equipped youth with essential tools for navigating the professional world, reinforcing the power of mentorship and the strength of the Trojan Family.

Clean and Organize Toys
Torrance, CA

Benefiting: Momentum Pediatric Therapy Network
Hosted by: Tamara Hatwan ’89

Thank you to the University of Southern California Alumni for including us in their Annual Alumni Day of Service! It was a success by all accounts as the Trojans took on a renewal project of our sensory tools and toys to support the development of children throughout our Pediatric Services. The children supported in our programs entered this week with a new range of renewed tools to strengthen their abilities and learning. Thanks to all of the amazing volunteers who took on the USC spirit to “Fight on” through every task handed to them to make this day and the inspiring result possible.

— Momentum Pediatric Therapy Network

Qianshuiwan Beach Cleanup
New Taipei, Taiwan

Benefiting: North Coast and Quanyinshan National Scenic Area
Hosted by: USC Alumni Club of Taiwan

A total of 23 partners, both young and old, enthusiastically participated in this event, with an attendance rate of up to 121%! Everyone showed their love and responsibility for the environment through their actions. They worked together to pick up 41.6 kilograms of garbage, making this beautiful beach fresh and clean again.

In the warm sunshine and facing the sea breeze, we not only did our part for nature, but also felt full of satisfaction and joy in our hearts. It is really touching to see so many alumni and partners passionately contributing! I hope this experience will become a fond memory for everyone, and I look forward to working together again in the future to continue working for environmental protection.

Thank you to everyone who participated, your contributions make this world a better place!

— Vicky Lee

Plant Bamboo for Pandas
San Francisco, CA

Benefiting: San Francisco Zoo
Hosted by: USC Alumni in San Francisco & USC APAA Bay Area

One completed task was the planting of 60 potted bamboos into a new browse garden. This browse garden will begin a series bamboo plantings that can tell a conservation story of what we are doing for the Pandas. Another task was infilling composted soils into a newly renovated area along our railroad tracks. This area will be a potential location of future planted bamboo gardens in the park. The teams were also able to assist in cleaning and restoring our Peccary exhibit in which volunteers removed branches and debris that filled a 30 yard green waste dumpster. It is my estimation that with 97 volunteers who worked 2 hours each allowed the zoo to capture 194 total hours of volunteer work. This stat is the equivalent of having 4 full time employees for an entire week.

The impact the volunteers will have is to allow my Horticulture staff to focus on grounds and garden maintenance, exhibit restoration and future zoo projects.

— San Francisco Zoo

Central Park Cleanup
New York, NY

Benefiting: Central Park – Grand Army Plaza
Hosted by: Jesse Wang & Amirta Srinivas

I hosted this project to create a space for connection. Moving from LA to NYC in 2022 was challenging—I didn’t live near close friends and often felt isolated. At this event, I realized many alumni felt the same. Even something as simple as picking up trash in a park became a way for us to come together and build community.

— Jesse Wang

Want more stories? Check out our full collection.

Photos

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can become a host?

All degreed alumni who agree to uphold Trojan Family values and the university’s code of conduct are eligible to host a project.

I want to host a project but am not sure how to start?

If you have any questions, please reach out to our office. You can also begin contacting your local community groups for ideas and assistance, or to organizations like these that have global volunteer opportunities:

Volunteer LA
Volunteer Match
Just Serve
All for Good
Habitat for Humanity
AARP Create the Good
Feeding America
American Red Cross

Where can I find virtual volunteer project opportunities?

Many organizations offer virtual volunteer opportunities for groups or individuals. A few are listed below:

Meals on Wheels
United Way
Translators Without Borders
Catch A Fire
UN Volunteers
DoSomething.org
Zooniverse
Color A Smile
Volunteer Match
Be My Eyes
Library of Congress
National Park Service
Smithsonian
Warm-Up America

What are examples of past projects?

Animal Care: Pasadena Humane Society
Art & Crafts: “Fight On” Beads
Beautification and Gardening: Community Clean-Up
Construction: Battleship IOWA Museum Los Angeles
Healthcare and Hospital: Cards for Hospitalized Kids
Hunger and Homelessness: Regional Food Bank, Feed My Starving Children
Mentorship and Education: Young Business Alliance
Outreach to Older Adults: Bingo at Sakura Gardens
Youth Outreach: Fannie C. Harris Youth Center
Other: Clothing Drives

What are my key responsibilities as a host?

Below is a short checklist of tasks before, during and after the project to ensure you have an enjoyable, meaningful and stress-free experience.

Before the Project:

Attend a one-hour, mandatory Day of SCervice Host Informational Session online.
Submit all project details to the USC Alumni Association (USCAA) regional team by the deadline, using the Project Submission Form.
Notify the USCAA if you need a co-host for support and back-up (recommended).
Serve as the contact person for the USCAA, the organization and the participants.
Email participants with all event details prior to the Day of SCervice.
Promote events on regional Facebook group pages and within the FightOnline Community for your region (marketing assets will be provided as needed).
Join the FightOnline Alumni Volunteer Leaders Community to interact with other alumni volunteers and to share best practices and tips.

During the Project:

Be present at the event.
Arrive early — if needed, set up the site with decor and signage.
Greet and sign in guests.
Capture photos/videos and share on social media, tagging @usclaumni and using #uscalumni, #fighton #usctrojans or other popular USC hashtags. Photo tips:
- Capture faces in good lighting.
- Get lively group shots.
- Show off multigenerational families.

After the Project (within 48 hours):

Share sign-in list with the USCAA.
Share photos, videos or other content with the USCAA.
Share feedback and comments.

How do I publicize my Day of SCervice project to USC alumni in my area?

Here are a few ways to promote your project to local Trojans:

USCAA will:

Post project details on Facebook on your area’s designated USCAA Regional Alumni Groups.
Post project details in the designated FightOnline Community for your region.
Promote the project in your personal/local network (email, text, post on LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.).
Co-promote with the organization.

What other resources does the USCAA provide for Day of SCervice hosts?

USCAA will:

Provide host training and a detailed timeline.
Provide a USC Host Box which includes name tags, check in list, markers, signage and the Alumni Day of SCervice commemorative gift for the host(s).
Provide an e-registration list 5 days prior to the Day of SCervice.

What is our cancellation/illness policy?

Please notify USCAA about cancellations/illnesses as soon as possible and when possible no less than 48 hours prior to the Alumni Day of SCervice so that we can notify participants or, if possible, designate another alumni host.

Host Resources