Day of SCervice Impact Stories - USC Alumni Association

2026 Projects

Crocheting with Seniors
Pasadena, CA

Benefiting: Seniors in the Pasadena Community
Hosted by: Reane Co, Sharon Woo ’79 & MKHS Alliance

Seniors in assisted living carry lifetimes of stories, wisdom, and experience — and sometimes all they need is someone to show up for them. After losing her grandmother, Reane saw firsthand how much a simple visit could mean, and knew the USC Alumni community’s spirit of service was the perfect force to channel into something lasting.

Volunteers spent the day teaching residents the art of crochet — an activity chosen not just for its creativity, but for the cognitive and motor benefits it offers older adults. Together, they crafted coasters using a magic ring and single crochet stitches, all while swapping stories and soaking in the residents’ advice and laughter.

The smiles said it all. By the end of the day, a new community had taken shape — one stitch at a time. The staff was so moved by the residents’ joy that they invited the group to come back again.

Keck School of Medicine of USC Community Service Day
Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: Various Boyle Heights Organizations
Hosted by: Salerni Collegium Alumni Association & Keck School of Medicine of USC Office of Student Engagement and Cultural Affairs

The Salerni Collegium Alumni Association, in partnership with the Keck School Office of Student Engagement and Cultural Affairs, proudly hosted the first USC Day of SCervice 2026, a day rooted in service, connection, and meaningful community impact.

Service to the community is a defining characteristic of the Keck School of Medicine. Through required service-learning experiences, students regularly engage with communities to better understand the structural, psychological, and social factors that shape health and well-being. USC Day of SCervice built upon this longstanding commitment, expanding it beyond the curriculum to bring together the broader Trojan community in a shared day of action.

This effort was driven by a shared goal: to unite Trojans across generations and backgrounds in meaningful service. With a focus on Boyle Heights and the surrounding USC community, the day highlighted the power of collective action and the importance of supporting local organizations deeply rooted in the neighborhoods they serve.

Nearly 60 volunteers participated, including undergraduate and graduate students, USC and KSOM alumni, parents, family members, and even students from other institutions. This diverse group reflected the Trojan spirit at its best, united by a commitment to service.

Volunteers were deployed across six community partner sites, each addressing critical local needs. At the St. Francis Center and LA Food Bank, volunteers sorted and packaged food, ensuring that families, students, and individuals experiencing food insecurity received fresh and accessible resources. At Clínica Romero, volunteers prepared and distributed approximately 100 meals to unhoused community members, combining direct service with a moment of remembrance and reflection.

At Casa Milagrosa DePaul, volunteers contributed through painting, organizing, and meal preparation, helping to improve living spaces and support residents. Meanwhile, teams working with Urban 360 and Soledad Enrichment Action (SEA) focused on neighborhood beautification, cleaning streets, and fostering community pride. At Seeds of Hope LA, volunteers engaged in garden maintenance, supporting sustainable food systems and creating welcoming green spaces.

The impact of the day was both immediate and lasting. Volunteers collectively improved access to food, enhanced community spaces, and strengthened partnerships with organizations serving the surrounding community. Beyond these tangible outcomes, the day deepened an ongoing relationship between USC and the communities it serves.

For many volunteers, the experience was equally meaningful on a personal level. Participants shared that serving alongside fellow Trojans while engaging directly with the community reinforced a shared responsibility to give back. Community partners also expressed appreciation for the energy and dedication volunteers brought to each site, noting that their contributions helped advance ongoing efforts in a meaningful way.

To close out the day, volunteers reconvened at the Health Sciences Campus for a shared debrief. Over a pizza lunch at Mayer Auditorium, participants reflected on their experiences, exchanged stories from across sites, and strengthened connections with one another. This moment of reflection underscored the collective impact of the day and the importance of continued engagement.

Ultimately, USC Day of SCervice 2026 demonstrated that while service is already embedded in the KSOM experience, creating space for the broader Trojan community to come together amplifies that impact. This year built upon a strong foundation of service and set the stage for a growing tradition that will continue to uplift communities and strengthen the Trojan network for years to come.

40 Prado Shelter Beautification
San Luis Obispo, CA

Benefiting: Community Action Program of SLO County (CAPSLO)
Hosted by: Bob Zdenek ’98

I am a volunteer at 40 Prado for food delivery Monday a.m. 40 Prado houses over 100 people every night including children, most are getting ready for transitional housing. 40 Prado feeds between 200 to 500 twice a day, depending on time of month. They also have a clothing closet and offer extensive de-tox support. This was a great project addressing our most vulnerable citizens and glad U.S.C. could be part of 40 Prado through Day of Caring. I work closely with CAPSLO, the sponsor of 40 Prado.

Assemble & Pack Art Materials
Redwood City, CA

Benefiting: Art in Action
Hosted by: Willow Bechtel ’81

I’ve been involved as a volunteer on USCervice Days since the beginning, yet this was my first time hosting a project. Love the idea of this global day, that’s only asking for our time, and not like usual, our money. A fun way to give back and be with other Trojans. Also used it as a mini reunion of sorts as invited several of my sorority sisters to join and even had one fly up from So Cal. It was such a fun way for us to come together. Was also nice to have Trojans from 1976 to 2007 grads who were all so incredibly proud of their university and so happy to be involved in something besides supporting our sports teams.

My project supported Art in Action, a non-profit that provides arts education to K – 8 schools across the country with 50% of those being Title IV. As a passionate supporter of arts for children, I had also served on their board for several years, so this was a nice way to support the organization while introducing Trojans to their work.

Volunteers were involved in pulling together, sorting, counting, measuring art supplies for art kits.

All volunteers said positive things about the experience and would come back again.

Volunteer at Common Roots Farm
Santa Cruz, CA

Benefiting: Common Roots Farm
Hosted by: Lesley Ruzon ’96

I love Day of SCervice for many reasons, but one that stands out to me for my project is introducing Common Roots Farm to more people. The farm was built to provide purpose for disabled adults. Doing a small part to make that possible is highly rewarding. Heidi, the founder and director, is an inspiration and her story makes me want to be a better person.

Sort Business Clothes for USC Students
Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: USC Students
Hosted by: Trojan Womens Network

I hosted this Day of SCervice project because giving back to the USC community is incredibly important to me, and I wanted to create something that would have a direct and lasting impact. Rather than simply partnering with an existing charity, I developed a two-part initiative—Day of SCervice: sorting business clothes for USC students and the Career Closet event on 4/1—to address a need I recognized among USC students. Professional clothing can be expensive, and not all students have equal access to outfits that help them feel confident and prepared for interviews, internships, or their first jobs. I wanted to lower that financial barrier and help create more equitable opportunities for students entering the corporate world, where first impressions can make a meaningful difference.

Through this project, we reached out to our networks and successfully collected donations of gently used business clothing and accessories from USC alumni and friends. Volunteers played a key role in organizing and sorting these items to ensure they were suitable for students, and any donations that did not meet the criteria were given to Tommy’s Closet so that nothing went to waste. The collaboration and dedication of our volunteers allowed us to maximize the impact of every contribution while supporting multiple communities.

As we approach the second phase, Career Closet, we have focused heavily on outreach to ensure students are aware of this free thrifting opportunity. I personally connected with the Panhellenic Board and Alpha Chi Omega, while another board member reached out to Helenes, and our President worked with the Career Center to expand visibility. The response from those we collaborated with has been overwhelmingly positive, with many recognizing the importance of providing accessible professional resources to students. Volunteers have also shared how rewarding it feels to contribute to a project that directly supports their peers and promotes both confidence and career readiness.

Overall, this initiative highlights the power of community, collaboration, and intentional impact. By combining donation efforts with strong outreach, we are creating a resource that not only provides tangible support but also empowers students as they take important steps toward their professional futures. I am hopeful that through Career Closet, we will be able to reach and support as many students as possible.

Craft “Fight On” Bead Necklaces for Hospital Patients
Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: Keck Hospital Patients
Hosted by: Town and Gown of USC & Keck Medicine Patient Experience

Impact of the 16,000 Fight on Marano Glass and Pewter Bead Necklace for Women Fighting Life-Changing Illness at Keck Hospitals made by volunteers over the past 13 years of Day of SCervice**

The 16,000 Fight initiative, centered on the Marano glass and pewter bead necklace, has become a beacon of resilience for women confronting life-changing illnesses at Keck Hospitals. By combining delicate craftsmanship with symbolic meaning, the necklaces offer more than adornment; they provide a tangible reminder of strength, community, and hope. The program reaches thousands through donor contributions, hospital partnerships, and patient-centered workshops, enabling women to reclaim joy and agency during difficult treatments. Each bead set tells a story of perseverance, turning a personal struggle into a shared movement that amplifies advocacy, raises awareness, and funds essential research and supportive services. In practical terms, patients report improved morale, a sense of normalcy amidst medical routines, and a renewed connection to family and community. For Keck Hospitals, the initiative strengthens patient experience metrics, enhances fundraising pipelines, and reinforces a culture of compassionate, holistic care that treats the person as a whole, not just a diagnosis.

Create Science Experiment Guides for Elementary School Students
Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: USC Joint Educational Project
Hosted by: USC Dornsife Alumni Relations

More than 40 USC alumni came to the Joint Educational Project (JEP) house to benefit it’s STEM programs illustrate their lesson plans with instructional photos of science experiments.

From Strawberry mashing for a DNA lesson for younger kids to in-depth filtration experiments for 5th graders, they managed to capture images for more than 40 lesson plans.

Westwood Greenway Beautification
Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: Westwood Greenway
Hosted by: Anne Gaw ’04

Several of the alumni who attended the Westwood Greenway Beautification project said they never knew the Westwood Greenway was there. The Westwood Greenway is one of my favorite spots in Los Angeles, and I was delighted to have the opportunity to share it with my fellow Trojan alumni. It’s such a peaceful, beautiful, natural place, and full of life (birds chirping, water flowing in the background). Charles Miller, president of the Westwood Greenway board and a USC alum, said the Westwood Greenway would literally not be here if not for the work of all the volunteers that maintain it. Maintaining California native plants takes a lot of care; you can’t just send a gardener through with a lawnmower and leaf blower. We carefully weeded out only the invasive plants, while leaving the native plants in place. It looked great when we were finished, and 9 green bins were filled with unwanted invasives!

Mentor LGBTQ+ Youth
Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: Rainbow Labs
Hosted by: USC Lambda Alumni Association

I chose to host this project because I deeply understand the power of representation—and the lack of it that many LGBTQ+ young people still experience. Creating a space where LGBTQ+ youth could connect directly with LGBTQ+ adults and leaders felt not only necessary, but urgent.

This project benefited both the youth participants and the adult volunteers in ways that became clear almost immediately. While the intention was to mentor young people, what unfolded was something much more expansive—a full-circle, 360° experience. LGBTQ+ youth were able to see, in real time, examples of who they could become. They didn’t just hear about success stories—they met people who had navigated similar challenges and still found their way to spaces like USC.

At the same time, many of the adult volunteers reflected on how meaningful it was to show up in this way. For some, it created an opportunity to reconnect with their younger selves—processing, healing, and reclaiming parts of their own journeys through mentorship. It reinforced that mentorship in LGBTQ+ spaces is not one-directional; it is reciprocal and deeply affirming.

One of the most powerful outcomes was seeing the shift in perception among youth participants. For some, attending a private university like USC may have previously felt out of reach. But through direct interaction, conversation, and storytelling, that distance shrank. They were able to say, “My journey isn’t so different from theirs. Maybe I belong in spaces like this too.”

Ultimately, this work is important because it builds visibility, belonging, and possibility. It reminds our community—across generations—that we are not alone, and that our stories, when shared, can open doors for others.

Sort and Pack Food for Distribution
Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Hosted by: USC Trojan Guild of Los Angeles & USC Veterans Resource Center

This year was the first time that USC Trojan Guild of LA hosted a Day of SCervice Project. It exceeded our expectations in many ways. The LA Regional Food Bank was so well prepared for us we stepped right into a positive experience. Two other Trojan groups were there so we all worked side by side for four hours. I like to say – our tasks are simple but our collective contribution is great! Indeed, that was true as we sorted and bagged over 77,000 pounds of produce! We also produced a lot of Trojan Spirit all around the work tables and made new friends. We hope that some of the volunteers will join in USC alumni groups including Trojan Guild of LA. We felt like “hunger heroes” for the day. A very good day for all.

Introduce Gardening to Preschoolers
Pasadena, CA

Benefiting: Families Forward Learning Center
Hosted by: USC Trojan Affiliates

Early childhood experiences shape long-term habits and perspectives. Introducing children to gardens, fresh foods, and nature at a young age helps build familiarity, confidence, and curiosity. In a community where access to fresh foods and outdoor learning opportunities may be limited, this type of experience can have a lasting impact. It also fosters a sense of connection, support, and shared responsibility within the community.

Families Forward expressed appreciation for the thoughtful structure of the event and the positive engagement it created for the children and families. They shared that the activities were well-organized, age-appropriate, and meaningful, and that the children were excited and engaged throughout the experience. They valued the opportunity to offer something both educational and enjoyable to the families they serve.

Equestrian Center Cleanup
San Dimas, CA

Benefiting: Rising Stars Equestrian Therapy
Hosted by: Aubrey Nova ’25

We had a volunteer, a young man, who had never touched a horse and doesn’t like animals. He came to the event with his parents. He was a little unsure upfront but by the end of the day he was petting the horses, helping with bathing them and had a great time being outdoors.

The president of the non-profit said “”This event was a huge success!””

The Director said, “”Thank you so much for all your help! The horses are so happy!””

Several volunteers said they hope to do this exact project again next year, several want to get involved with the non-profit externally, and had a great time.”

Volunteer at the Annual Walk for Animals
San Diego, CA

Benefiting: San Diego Humane Society
Hosted by: USC Marshall Alumni – San Diego

The San Diego Marshall and Leventhal Alumni Association sponsored the Day of SCervice in 2026 for the San Diego Humane Society Walk for Animals in Escondido. This is their largest fundraiser for the year. The SD Humane Society needs our help to bring awareness to animals in our community and the thousands of animals that are abandoned or otherwise mistreated. By being part of the Walk for Animals we brought increased awareness to what the SD Humane Society does. The volunteers really enjoyed participating in the event, many said they hope we can do the same next year. We had 30 attendees, but it was so popular we could probably increase the attendance next year to 45-50 volunteers.

Assemble STEAM Kits for Underserved Children
Santa Ana, CA

Benefiting: Child Creativity Lab
Hosted by: Tracey Hill ’98

The USC Day of Service made a meaningful impact at Child Creativity Lab by bringing together dedicated volunteers to support hands-on learning opportunities for local youth. During the event, volunteers assembled more than 200 STEAM kits, expanding access to engaging science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities for over 400 low-to-moderate income (LMI) students. These kits help remove barriers to enrichment by providing creative learning materials directly to students who may not otherwise have access to them. By investing their time and energy, USC volunteers helped spark curiosity, confidence, and problem-solving skills in the next generation of innovators. Their work strengthened community partnerships and ensured more students could experience the joy and benefits of creative, hands-on education.

Write Get Well Cards and Assemble Pet Meals & Toys
San Diego, CA

Benefiting: Meals on Wheels San Diego and Operation Gratitude
Hosted by: Trojan League Association of San Diego

In the space of 2 hours, we wrote 100 cards to hospitalized military, created dozens of dog toys for Helen Woodward and pre-packaged dog meals for pets of elderly who receive Meals on Wheels and who otherwise would share their own food with their pets.

Volunteer at an Animal Shelter
Palm Springs, CA

Benefiting: Palm Springs Animal Shelter
Hosted by: Trojan League Of The Desert

Wow – what a wonderfully interesting, informative, productive and FUN day we had at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter today! BIG thank you to all that volunteered!!

We had Alums join us from all over the place including Monterey, Chicago and Temecula!

Our group was split in half – each half alternated with a complete tour of the facility and then made goodies and treats for the animals. Some of the goodies were put in ice tray type of containers that they freeze and then give to the animals. The ingredients used were yogurt, peanut butter, pumpkin, frozen vegetables, kibble and bone broth. The building is larger than it looks from the outside. We saw many dogs and cats (all colors and sizes) and even some rabbits and guinea pigs. Our group also donated, dog and cat food, blankets, treats, and dog and cat toys.

The shelter is a ‘no kill’ facility and there are over 600 volunteers that help out at the shelter. It also has a full time veterinarian who works four 10 hour shifts and one more that fills in.

It was a pleasure to volunteer here today for our annual USC Day of Service! Fight On!

Pack Donated Food Items
CDMX, Mexico

Benefiting: Alimento Para Todos
Hosted by: USC Mexico Office & Angela McCracken

We unpacked donations and repacked them into individual donation bags for 50 families. It is incredibly rewarding to hear about the great, hidden work this organization is doing to reduce food waste and feed families with food insecurity, and to then participate in the labor that is required to make it happen. It was challenging, and fun to work with other alumni in a team toward something we all believe in.

North Coast Beach Cleanup
New Taipei City, Taiwan

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

This year marks my 10th time organizing the USC Service Day. As Taiwan is a beautiful island nation, I often organize beach clean-ups as volunteer activities. This is also my 10th collaboration with the North Coast & Guanyinshan National Scenic Area. Thanks to our consistently strong track record, the coordinators recommended a brand-new location this year—Wanli. They also mentioned that this experience would be different from previous ones, offering a strong sense of achievement and creating a new milestone for our alumni community.

Our clean-up site, Guoshengpu, is located within a military-controlled area, with a nearby nuclear power plant. Due to the cooling system required for nuclear power generation, the intake and discharge of water create strong currents and whirlpools. Combined with tidal effects, large amounts of marine debris are carried and accumulated along the shore. As a result, not only is the volume of waste significant, but its composition is also very different from what we typically see on other beaches. In addition, the coastline is mainly covered with gravel and rocks rather than sand, making it especially challenging to walk on—particularly in the rain.

Because it is a restricted military zone, the area is not accessible to the general public, leading to long-term accumulation of waste. Clean-up activities require experienced teams to apply for access and strictly follow regulations. During the process, we must also comply with military safety guidelines, as we may encounter smuggled items, illegal substances, or various types of discarded materials from ships. Knowing how to handle these situations appropriately, while avoiding further environmental impact, makes this experience not only physically demanding but also highly educational and meaningful.

On the day of the event, light rain did prevent some alumni from attending. Nevertheless, despite multiple challenges, our team of 39 participants worked together to remove a total of 241 kilograms of marine debris—breaking our previous records. Everyone started the day with excitement and anticipation, but once we bent down to begin, it was hard to tell whether the moisture on our faces was rain or sweat. Combined with the slippery terrain and the invisible pressure of the environment, the process was indeed tough. However, it was precisely these challenges that made the experience so rewarding. By the end, although we were physically exhausted, we were filled with a deep sense of joy and accomplishment.

Many alumni are already saying they can’t wait to join again next time. I will likely choose this location again in the future; however, due to safety concerns and the challenging terrain, it may not be suitable for young children or elderly participants.

Lastly, I would like to thank my family for their unwavering support over these ten years. They have been by my side throughout every Service Day. My child has even become highly capable in assisting with registration, hosting, photography, weighing and recording results, and post-event reviews. This is more than just an event—it is a meaningful passing on of values. For us, this experience is especially unforgettable and truly significant.

Create Care Packages for Foster Youth in College
Chicago, IL

Benefiting: Foster Progress
Hosted by: Kate Kelly ’21

Foster Prorgress hosted this project to create care packages for our program youth who are in college. Our program helps youth who have experienced foster care attain a college degree and transition into adulthood successfully. Most of these youth do not have someone who sends them mail or a care package on campus, and the amazing USC Day of Service filled that need. They packed 44 boxes filled with tea, hand warmers, hot chocolate packets, Foster Progress hats, and more. Each box had a handwritten encouraging note from the USC volunteers.

The start of the day included a short presentation on foster youth, Foster Progress, and why these packages matter. Foster Progress is grateful to the USC Alumni for giving up their time and coming to help us ensure our program youth feel special.

Building Affordable Housing in Chicago
Chicago, IL

Benefiting: Habitat for Humanity Chicago
Hosted by: Chicago Trojan Network

On March 21, 2026, the USC Chicago alumni chapter participated in a build day in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Chicago, where a small but mighty group of Trojans constructed and mounted the wall framing for a residential garage! This work took place in the West Pullman neighborhood, a historic community on the far South Side of Chicago with a long heritage of agriculture, factory production, and transportation. The community is approximately 92% Black with a median age of 36.7 and boasts one of the city’s higher homeownership rates at 51%. As recent disinvestments in residential and commercial properties have made the neighborhood vulnerable to decline, the tangible, structural work completed by our alumni volunteers on the Day of SCervice represents a critical and targeted improvement that could change the trajectory of its prosperity.

Hallie Rosenberg from Habitat Chicago says, “”Thanks for being part of our work in so many ways. Your time and energy go a long way in helping our families build the strong, stable futures they deserve. We’re so glad to have you on this journey with us!””

Harrison Pritchard from Habitat Chicago says, “”Thank you all so much for coming out and we hope to see you all back out in the future!”

Pack Food for Distribution
Albuquerque, NM

Benefiting: Roadrunner Food Bank
Hosted by: USC Alumni in New Mexico

We host a project to help with food insecurity in New Mexico. This is our 3rd year working with Roadrunner Food Bank (RRFB) of New Mexico. We packed almost 3 tons of Mexican squash for distribution throughout our community. RRFB is the primary source of free food for many low-income individuals and families. The USC Alumni Group of NM loves working with them because they are so easy to work with, provide a great place to pack and distribute food and appreciate the effort of all volunteers.

The SC Day of Service is a great opportunity for us to work together with family and friends, have some fun and after our project, all go out to breakfast! This has become our tradition after many years.

Collect and Sort Shoes
Denver, CO

Benefiting: Soles4Souls
Hosted by: USC Alumni in New Mexico

I have been a part of Soles4Souls for over 10 years. The organization relies heavily on volunteer support. As an FYI, the representative for S4S, said that yesterdays event was the biggest volunteer event they have ever had in Colorado and came at such a great time as they are moving to a new bigger and better location April 1st.

Collecting and sorting shoes is a super fun event that all members of the Trojan Family can participate including the kids (the next generation of Trojans).

As a reminder, these are the 3 pillars of S4S:

4Relief – When disaster strikes, making meaningful donations for disaster relief can change lives. Sometimes, a simple pair of shoes is the first step toward recovery. Through our 4Relief program, Soles4Souls provides more than just shoes, socks, and clothing — we help restore dignity, stability, and a path forward.

From natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires to personal crises, together our support helps individuals begin rebuilding their lives. Every contribution helps someone take that crucial step forward —whether returning to work, going back to school, or caring for their family.

4Opportunity – In low-income countries, long-term work can be scarce. Soles4Souls works with like-valued partners to help people start and grow businesses — using donated shoes and clothing to create sustainable livelihoods.

4EveryKid – For the millions of children experiencing homelessness in the U.S., life is full of challenges. Without proper shoes, they can feel embarrassed, discouraged, and left out — limiting their opportunities today and tomorrow.

Volunteer at a Blood Drive
New York, NY

Benefiting: New York Blood Center
Hosted by: USC Marshall Alumni Association of New York

I hosted a blood drive as part of the Day of Service to help address the ongoing need for blood donations and to make a tangible impact on saving lives. Every blood donor has the potential to save up to four lives, which made this project especially meaningful and urgent.

This project primarily benefited patients in need of blood transfusions, including those undergoing surgery, cancer treatment, or experiencing medical emergencies. It also supported the broader community by helping maintain an adequate and reliable blood supply. This work is important because blood donations are constantly needed, yet often in short supply, and even a single donation can make a life-saving difference.

Throughout the project, volunteers played a key role in outreach, coordination, and on-site support. They helped recruit donors, manage logistics, and ensure the event ran smoothly. Thanks to their efforts, we were able to successfully collect donations and raise awareness about the importance of giving blood.

The success of the blood drive was also made possible by strong community involvement. The majority of donors came from the local neighborhood, demonstrating how impactful community engagement can be. Our partner organization was organized and punctual, and they expressed appreciation for the coordination and support provided by our volunteers.

Volunteers shared that the experience was both rewarding and eye-opening. Many appreciated being part of an initiative where they could directly contribute to saving lives, and some were inspired to stay involved in future service efforts.

Overall, this project highlighted the power of community collaboration and the importance of creating accessible opportunities for people to give back. It also showed that with the right outreach and engagement, even a single event can have a meaningful and lasting impact.

Sort and Repack Fruit and Vegetables for Food Packages
Portland, OR

Benefiting: The Oregon Food Bank
Hosted by: Portland Trojan Network

Our project benefited family impacted by food insecurity in Portland and neighboring communities.

As we separated potatoes and bagged them for SNAP, we realized the importance of having food available to each of us and how lucky we were. In our conversations we were able to chat and get to know one another and plan future Trojan Network Activities and consider other Volunteer Events.

Volunteer at YES Farm
Seattle, WA

Benefiting: New York Blood Center
Hosted by: Black Farmers Collective

Our volunteer team tended to a small urban farm called YES Farm. It is located in downtown Seattle. YES Farm is supported by the Black Farmers Collective, whose mission is to “. . . build a Black-led food system by developing a cooperative network of food system actors, acquiring and stewarding land, facilitating food system education, and creating space for Black liberation in healing and joy.” Trojan volunteers assisting in weeding beds and adding in compost to enrich and rejuvenate the soil for Spring planting. It was a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and education.

Sort and Pack Donated Food Items
Atlanta, GA

Benefiting: Atlanta Community Food Bank
Hosted by: USC Alumni in Atlanta

There are 820,010 people (one in eight of our neighbors) projected to be food insecure in North Geogia; one in six children go to bed hungry every night. I am passionate about fighting hunger globally (World Central Kitchen), domestically (Feeding America) and locally (Atlanta Community Food Bank). That is why I host a Day of SCervice project at the ACFB.

This year, the USC Atlanta Trojan Family thirty-person volunteer team and smaller groups from Accenture and Tracy Taylor Ministries sorted, inspected, and packaged 11,511 pounds of donated and rescued product for delivery to the more than 700 ACFB community-based nonprofit food distribution partners in metro-Atlanta and north Georgia; that translated to 9,592 meals for hungry and food insecure neighbors in our community.

Regardless of USC Trojan sports victories over UCLA, Stanford, and Notre Dame, I am never more proud to be a USC alumnus than I am on the annual global Day of SCervice. FIGHT ON!

Volunteer at Sacramento Children’s Home
Sacramento, CA

Benefiting: Sacramento Children’s Home
Hosted by: USC Alumni in Sacramento, Tera Hannah and Joshua Morgan

I host the Sacramento Day of SCervice because I love reuniting with other Trojans and volunteering with the amazing team at the Sacramento Children’s Home. It’s become an annual Sacramento tradition!

Every year new people join us, who recently finished their degrees and/or moved to Sacramento. It’s fun to see familiar faces and to welcome the young alumni to our Sacramento Trojan community. We always work (really) hard and are able to see the impact of our work at the end of the day!

Pack and Distribute Essential Items for People in Need
San Jacinto, CA

Benefiting: Foster & Banks Walk in Faith Foundation/CEOME LLC
Hosted by: Dr. Jamila Banks ’04, Foster & Banks Walk in Faith Foundation/CEOME LLC

We hosted this project because we are deeply committed to serving our community and restoring the village mentality—the belief that when we come together, we can create meaningful and lasting change.

This project benefited individuals experiencing homelessness, providing them with essential items such as food, water, and hygiene supplies. More importantly, it offered a sense of dignity, care, and human connection.

This work is important because many individuals in our communities are facing daily challenges related to housing and access to basic needs. By showing up with compassion and consistency, we can help bridge gaps and remind people that they are seen, valued, and supported.

During the event, a team of 11 volunteers came together to prepare sandwiches, assemble lunch bags with fruit, granola bars, and water, and pack over 100 blessing bags filled with essential items. Following the event, our foundation personally distributed the bags within the community, ensuring direct impact.

Volunteers described the experience as fulfilling, eye-opening, and purpose-driven. Many shared that it deepened their connection to service and inspired them to continue giving back.

This project reinforced that even small acts, when done collectively, can create a powerful ripple effect of hope, healing, and humanity.

Pack Food Boxes For Senior Citizens
Orange County, CA

Benefiting: Community Action Partnership of Orange County
Hosted by: USC Marshall Alumni Association of Orange County

We packed over 1000 boxes of non-perishable food items which means over 1000 low income seniors will receive these boxes and have food to eat.

2025 Projects

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

Sort Food Donations for Los Angeles Residents – Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Hosted by: Keck School of Medicine of USC

On behalf of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the Salerni Collegium Alumni Association, and USC Alumni at Northrop Grumman, thank you for signing up for our Service Day at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank!

Whether you were able to attend or not, we appreciate your commitment to giving back. Thanks to your efforts, we bagged 21,987 lbs of cabbage for families and individuals in need. Alongside other volunteer groups that day, we collectively sorted an incredible 71,206 lbs of produce, helping to support the Food Bank’s 600+ agency partners and fight food insecurity in our community.

Thank you again for your time and generosity. We hope to see you at a future service event!

Crafts & Donations for Eaton Fire Families – Alhambra, CA

Benefiting: Alhambra Unified & Pasadena Unified School Districts
Hosted by: Sharon Woo ’79

After volunteering on USC Alumni Day of SCervice for many years, I finally decided to host an event. I’m the president of Mark Keppel High School Alliance, a non-profit organization that fundraises for Mark Keppel High, & wanted to give students, who aspire to attend USC, the opportunity to host an SC event with me. This led to 3 events that were selected by the 5 students who contacted me:

Crafts & Donations for Eaton Fire Families
Design & Create Health-Themed Posters for Schools
Donate & Organize Essentials for Eaton Fire Victims.

The Alliance annually has events that benefit Operation Gratitude. This resulted in our 4^th event, Make Craft Items for Military Personnel.

Our 4 events were held in the school’s cafeteria. This allowed our volunteers to participate in the event they registered for, as well as, the other 3 events. In a post-event email to me, Michael Okamura (Marshall School of Business, 1983) wrote, “I enjoyed helping out a bit at each activity and met so many alumni along the way.”

— Sharon Woo

Assemble Easter Baskets & Sort and Organize Donations – Hollywood, Florida

Benefiting: Grace’s Closet
Hosted by: Lasana Smith

Serving with GRACE, Inc. extends our heartfelt gratitude to the University of Southern California (USC) alumni group of South Florida for their invaluable contribution during their Day of Service project. Their dedicated efforts in assisting with our annual Easter basket assembly were instrumental in launching this year’s initiative.

Last year, we successfully distributed over 230 Easter baskets to children in our community. This year, with the support of the USC alumni group, we are on track to exceed that number and anticipate distributing at least 300 baskets.

The USC volunteers played a crucial role in preparing and sorting toys, kicking off our process, and ultimately helped to assemble an initial 60 baskets as part of our overall goal. These baskets, filled with toys, treats, candy, and most importantly, love, will bring smiles to many children’s faces this Easter season. We deeply appreciate the time and effort put forth by the USC alumni, and the care they placed in assembling each basket that will make a significant difference in our community. Thank you, USC alumni, for your partnership and commitment to service.

Thanks!

— Evangeline Clarke

Central Park Cleanup – New York, NY

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

Clean and Organize Therapeutic Toys – Torrance, CA

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

Qianshuiwan Beach Cleanup – New Taipei, Taiwan

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

Hermosa Valley Greenbelt Restoration – Hermosa Beach, CA

Benefiting: South Bay Parkland Conservancy
Hosted by: USC Alumni in South Bay

I take Day of SCervice fairly seriously. I think that USC shines on this day, and I really like the concept that all over the world, USC alumni are stepping up and serving in their local communities. I take pride in it. The projects I choose are those that will benefit the actual community of people who will use the facilities (area) that we work on. This year we worked on a very specific project which is reestablishing a once lost butterfly corridor for a butterfly that is unique and only found in our area, the El Segundo/Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly. The corridor is also an overwintering area for Monarch Butterflies; those that stay and do not winter in Mexico. This is one of only a few such areas. It was also once lost.

The volunteers manually weeded and removed non-native plants from the habitat, allowing plants that the Blue Butterfly requires to use on its journey to flourish and be visible and accessible for the butterflies. The alumni, their family and friends were visibly engaged in the project. They seemed to enjoy learning about the importance and delicate balance of the butterfly corridor. The results were like night and day. The Conservancy that is responsible for the restoration of this habitat stated that the 48 Trojans (plus others from other organizations) performed 128 hours of work in four hours. Everyone who walks this greenbelt will benefit from and enjoy the wonderful work that the Trojans performed this spring when the butterflies emerge and make use of this corridor.

— Paulette

Sort Food Donations – San Clemente, CA

Benefiting: Family Assistance Ministries Food Bank
Hosted by: USC Marshall Alumni Association – Orange County

It’s a great way to meet other alumni in a different manner than a social only event. And they can bring their children too. So it a good bonding opportunity on many levels. The FAM food bank is a good local charity in South OC but struggles with finding volunteers so any exposure is good for them. The social media exposure that FAM gets in the community by highlighting groups who volunteer helps a lot. The attendees seem to really enjoy it and a family of 4 want to come back and volunteer on a regular basis.

— Desmond

Spend Time with Children with Intellectual Disabilities – Santiago, Chile

Benefiting: Fundación Abrazo Fraterno
Hosted by: USC Club in Chile

I hosted the project because it provided value for the people we spent time with and the USC community in Chile.

— Matías Sepúlveda

Learn about the Needs of People with Visual Impairments – Shanghai, China

Benefiting: beYoureyeS
Hosted by: USC Alumni Club of Shanghai

We had our Shanghai Alumni Club Day of Scervice this past Saturday, and I would love to share with you that we had a wonderful event and a great turnout.

We had over 30 alumni show up, some with their families. We collaborated with an NGO organization called “Be Your Eyes,” which helps and serves vision-impaired individuals. During the event we cared for and helped these individuals, while at the same time, our alumni really had a deep experience and gained an authentic understanding of the world that vision-impaired individuals live in every day.

What made this Day of SCervice most meaningful is that all participants are able to take what they have learned while volunteering in order to continue to help vision-impaired people in the future.

The USC Shanghai Alumni Club leadership team really helped put this together. I would love to recognize Blessing, Caroline and Gu Tian for helping organizing this event. And thanks to Miao Ling from our USC Shanghai Office for her continual support.

— Phil Li

Historic Japanese Cemetery Cleanup – Oxnard, CA

Benefiting: Ventura County JACL
Hosted by: Janice Tanaka ’77

We were only expecting around 20 people but 45 people showed up. A grant we had paid for Japanese bento plates so we had to go back into a store in Northridge to pick up extra bento.

Volunteers worked hard to clear out all the weeds and in the time allotted they did an excellent job. We did post on the Nextdoor App and it turns out that many lcoal people saw the posting and were interested in the story behind our cemetery.

— Janice Tanaka ’77

Plant Bamboo for Pandas – San Francisco, CA

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

Liberty Street Community Garden Project – Kingston, NY

Benefiting: Liberty Street Community Garden
Hosted by: Maisha Tyler ’20

The Day of SCervice helped to bring attention to the Community Garden that AME Zion Church of Kingston would like to create a space for children within an economically disadvantaged neighborhood. Currently, Midtown has no library (closed for renovation for a year), or much greenspace. As a Trustee, I organized a Garden Clean-Up corresponding to the Day of SCervice. Just the act of showing the presence of USC in the neighborhood garnered interest.

The AME Zion Liberty Street Community Garden is the only greenspace for the Midtown neighborhood. The library is closed for rehabilitation and the neighborhood’s many children and families have no place to play or congregate. As a mission, the historic church which serves this community is trying to create a space for rejuvenation and respite. They desperately volunteers and I was proud to volunteer via the Day of SCervice. The garden now looks much better and we’re planning a re-design (benches and maybe an outdoor book nook) for Spring!

At the end of the day, we had cleaned up the garden–and gained interest in volunteering for the longer term!

— Maisha Tyler ’20

River Cleanup – Modesto, CA

Benefiting: Norcal Veterans Peer Support Network
Hosted by: Joel Montes ’16

This event was hosted by a newly formed organization that myself and other military Veterans recently created as a non-profit to promote the wellbeing of Veterans and their families. We were drawn to the USC Day of Service because we wanted to participate in an event that would represent the shared values of service to our community. In this regard, the Central Valley has a myriad of rivers, streams, and creeks. The local population enjoys the parks, rivers, and streams and recreational activities throughout the year. We wanted to “think globally, act locally” by this beautification project by doing our part in keeping our parks and rivers clean. It the first of hopefully many opportunities we can do to contribute in bettering our community and as military Veterans continue to serve others. Our organization said they really enjoyed this activity and felt like they did make a small difference in cleaning up one of parks in North Central Valley. Our organization, the Norcal Veterans Peer Support Network, thanks USCAA for giving us the motivation and means to participate in Day of Service. My name is Joel Montes, MSW ’16, and military Veteran thank USC for giving me a chance to study and learn about volunteer service while a social work student. This is one way of my saying, thank you USC. Fight On!

— Joel Montes ’16

Assemble Art Materials for Classroom Lessons – Redwood City, CA

Benefiting: Art in Action
Hosted by: Asmiti Sura ’16, Manasi Barath

To mark our 10th year of participating in the USC Alumni Day of SCervice, Manasi and I hosted a volunteering project at Art in Action. Art in Action brings comprehensive and engaging art education programs to underserved schools. They provide an art curriculum along with providing the art supplies and training for educators to bring the curriculum to life. Together, we prepared art materials to be distributed for classroom lessons and served 660 students through the cork and wire sub-assembly. Our group also made a significant impact by prepping for their annual fundraiser, Object Art, by wrapping153 bottles of wine. While it always feels good to give back to the local community, it is extra special to support a worthwhile cause while volunteering with fellow alumni! Fight On!

— Asmiti Sura’16

Assemble Fresh Produce and Food Boxes – Bell, CA

Benefiting: Labor Community Services
Hosted by: Ana Priscila Garcia ’22

I hosted this project with Labor Community Services because they play a critical role in supporting our community, including the union members and families we serve at Building Skills Partnership. Despite being a small team of just four people, they provide food boxes to thousands of families each month, making their need for volunteers essential.

Thanks to our dedicated team of 12 volunteers, we were able to assemble 19 pallets, totaling 1,140 boxes of food. This effort directly impacted over 1,000 families in need. Labor Community Services expressed immense gratitude for our help, and we were all deeply moved knowing our work made such a tangible difference in our community. It was a powerful reminder of how collective action can create real, lasting change.

— Ana Priscila Garcia ’22

Volunteer at Sacramento Children’s Home – Sacramento, CA

Benefiting: Sacramento Children’s Home
Hosted by: USC State Capital Center in Sacramento

For over ten years, Sacramento Trojans have been coming together to support the Sacramento Children’s Home and fellow Trojan/Executive Director David Baker. The Children’s Home is a local nonprofit dedicated to helping families and children through its crisis nursery program, family resource centers, mental health programs, and residential treatment programs. Volunteers worked on gardening and landscaping projects and had a great time getting to know each other. We got a lot done in a short amount of time, which really helps their facilities crew maintain the campus for families and foster youth.

Sort, Pack and Box Food for People in Need – Albuquerque, NM

Benefiting: Roadrunner Food Bank
Hosted by: USC Alumni in New Mexico

We have been hosting projects for years and will continue to do so to help our community. New Mexico is a very poor state and many families suffer from food insecurities. We worked with Roadrunner Food Bank (RRFB) to package pinto beans, a staple in NM. We were able to package, weigh and label 2 pound packages of beans, a total of 372 pounds. These packages are now ready for distribution. RRFB is concerned that funding may be cut and distribution of food will become limited to very few families. We need to continue to help RRFB with volunteering hours and money.

— Diane

Play Bingo with Senior Citizens – Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: Sakura Gardens Senior Living Facility
Hosted by: USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association

It was great to help host a project for the senior citizens. They were so engaged and it was nice to see them interact with all of the volunteers and each other. The ability to see all of their smiles during the couple of hours that we spent with them was priceless. Our volunteers were able to spend time with them during the games, laugh, smile, and help where needed.

I think it would be beneficial for the University to engage with the elderly in multiple ways with greater frequency. I know that these assisted living facilities really appreciate it.

— Patrick Takahashi

2024 Projects

Prepare Meal Kits for Youth – Aloha, OR

Benefiting: Good SamariKidz
Hosted by: Amanda Choi ’08

Thank you so much for helping package 5 days worth of food for 120 unhoused Beaverton students in such a short time. The packages were delivered to a nearby church after the event for distribution. Due to our budget, I was limited in what items I could buy, but hopefully this will help the students.

I hope to plant small seeds for the kids that came to help out. We read the book Maddie’s Fridge and it’s one of my favorites in teaching empathy to young children about hunger, charity, friendship, trust and helping others. Good Samarikidz is my passion project and hopefully lets little ones know they can make an impact even at a young age.

— Amanda Choi

Sort and Pack Rescued Product – Atlanta, GA

Benefiting: Atlanta Food Bank
Hosted by: Jim Summers ’74

Regardless of USC Trojan victories over UCLA, Stanford and Notre Dame, I am most proud to be a USC alum every year on a Saturday in March–the annual USC Alumni Day of SCervice. Spanning the globe, more than 2,000 members of the Trojan Family gathered to volunteer at deserving charities and give back to their respective local communities. In Atlanta, twenty-five members of the USC ATL Trojan Family gathered at the Atlanta Community Food Bank Hunger Action Center to fight food insecurity in our community. Our volunteers inspected, sorted and packed 8,460 pounds of food for distribution across the ACFB service area, translating to 7,050 meals for food-insecure families in north Georgia. We truly did meaningful and transformative work. Proud to be a USC ATL Trojan!

University of Southern California Trojan Family – Lifelong and Worldwide!

✌️FIGHT ON, Y’all!✌️

— Jim Summers

CSU/Expo Mini Urban Farm Beautification – Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: Community Services Unlimited Inc
Hosted by: Community Services Unlimited Inc.

CSU has been a wonderful Good Neighbors partner and a good neighbor to our community residents for as long as I can remember. The garden is an amazing space of organic joy. The beds are filled with healthy greens and an abundance of hope and loam. The garden gives our neighbors an opportunity to learn and connect with the earth. The produce from the garden is taken to the Village Marketplace to provide truly fresh, healthy vegetables at affordable prices to our neighbors.

The garden truly takes a village to grow. That “many hands” saying? Yes, and yes. Though the rain made things a little challenging, it was still fun for every one, but made us work a little harder and faster to get out of the rain! We were able to work two beds and get them planted with cabbages and bok choy and radishes, spread compost around the banana trees, create starter pots for the next round of plantings, and whatever else that Cris pointed us at. Cris did a great job of keeping everyone occupied and feeling useful. Several individuals were interested in volunteering on a more regular basis, and most people wore USC gear!

— Dawn Kita

Professional Attire and Career Shop – Houston, TX

Benefiting: Institute for Careers and Leadership Development
Hosted by: Ashley Davis ’02

We hosted a project because we enjoy giving back and knew the ideal opportunity to do so. We’ve always had a passion for teens and college students as they prep for the job-ready market and this was perfect… to spring-clean closets as a pay-it-forward initiative. Our project benefits Prairie View A & M’s Career Closet to assist students in feeling and looking their best as they prepare for job interviews. We were also able to collect evening attire and summer attire for those students who attend galas, and oftentimes, summer internships. It is so valuable for the community to understand that not every student is equipped to know how to properly present themselves and how to actually dress for success. Our volunteers launched friendships and one in particular really enjoyed learning more about USC and Houston alums.

— Ashley Davis

Battleship USS Iowa Beautification – Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: USS Iowa
Hosted by: USC Alumni Veterans Network & Marshall Alumni Association, LA Region

I hosted the project because I’m a veteran and the USS Iowa has much significance to the veteran community. The ship hosts numerous veteran events during the year and is the center of the annual U.S. Navy Fleet Week.

The USS Iowa is maintained by an almost entirely volunteer crew. So the project benefits everyone who visits the historic battleship.

With this project we were able to clean parts of the ship that the full- time volunteers could not get to. We left the ship looking a lot cleaner than when we started.

— Bertin Guillory

Help Grow Healthy Food and Beautiful Flowers – Santa Cruz, CA

Benefiting: Common Roots Farm
Hosted by: USC Alumni in the Bay Area

I led a group at Common Roots Farm in Santa Cruz. The farm was built to be a place where people of all abilities can work and have a sense of purpose. In addition, they are using organic and restorative farming practices. Doing even a small part to make this possible is worth a few hours of weeding. 🙂

— Lesley Ruzon

Walk and Distribute Necessities – Hong Kong, HK

Benefiting: ImpactHK
Hosted by: USC Alumni Club of Hong Kong

USC alumni and Impact HK worked as a team to serve homeless people in Hong Kong. We are here to make our city a better place where everyone cares for their neighbor!✌️

— Garrick Tang

Walking Path Litter Removal – Newport, OR

Benefiting: City of Newport
Hosted by: Helen Beaman ’13

I moved to a rural coastal community 4 years ago, and am now faraway from the Day of SCervice projects I used to participate in, but I didn’t want to miss out on this meaningful tradition. My community sees a lot of tourism–for the most part, year-round–so you add in coastal winds and you have a recipe for a lot of litter and debris in high-utilization areas. I enjoy jogging and walking my dogs along a particular pathway in South Newport and have often thought about picking up litter in the area. This project gave me an opportunity to represent USC as an ambassador for community service as well as for my profession (social work) that upholds volunteerism as a core value. I enjoyed a lovely morning in the sunshine, tidying up a beautiful recreational path in my community! FIGHT ON!

— Helen Beaman

Prepare Food for Distribution to Low-Income Seniors – Garden Grove, CA

Benefiting: OC Food Bank
Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAP OC)
Hosted by: USC Gould Alumni Association of Orange County
USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

I wanted to do more community service with my 12-year-old daughter. We did this same project last year and she really enjoyed it, which is what prompted me to help host the project this year. Community Action Partnership of Orange County had a very efficient system set up for volunteers and we packed 1,400 boxes of food for hungry seniors.

It was an early start and became a cold, rainy day, but our Trojan Family showed up and showed out! It was great to see volunteers of all ages come together to give back. Fight On!

— Fred Thiagarajah

Knit Hats for Premature Babies in Local Hospital NICUs – UPC, CA

Benefiting: Local hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs)
Hosted by: USC Viterbi Emerging Leaders Board

We collaborated on this service project alongside USC Madhatter Knits, a local chapter of the main organization that specializes in knitting hats for premature babies in nearby hospital NICUs. While seemingly small, this act carries a profound impact. Maintaining a stable body temperature is crucial for the growth and well-being of premature babies. The hats crafted by Madhatter Knits play a vital role in helping these infants regulate their body temperature and stay warm. During the Day of SCervice, we collectively created over 20 hats that will be donated to local hospitals, ultimately aiding premature babies in their progress. It’s remarkable how something seemingly small can make a significant difference in the lives of these little ones.

— Angela Wilson

Guanyin Mountain Clean-Up – Taiwan

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

On Saturday, March 23, it was a great sunny day. We were doing volunteer work at Guanyin Mountain in Taipei to clean the mountain. There were 41 volunteers willing to come from many places, which really touched me. One alum took the bus to Taipei the day before. Another took the high-speed train at 5:30 that morning. Still another brought their whole family, a total of six people, including his three-year-old twins. One brought his mother who is eighty years old, but at least in super good shape. The special thing is that four non-Taiwanese alumni also signed up. One of them was a 2023 graduate and salutatorian, Carina, who came to Taiwan as a Fulbright student to teach English for one year. It took a long time for her and her friends from Hualien to get to the site.

USC is definitely a common topic for everyone. We all got to know each other in a short time, and with the same goal in mind, we rolled up our sleeves to clean up the mountain.

We were sweaty, but happy, and our work brought us spiritual satisfaction, since we all have respect for the beauty of nature.

Thank you to every volunteer who got up early and came from so many places to join us. Society is better because of you. Thanks to the Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center for giving us the opportunity to return nature to its original appearance. Thank you USC for allowing us to unite the power of alumni in this way.

Fight On!

— Yu-Chi Lee (Vicky)

Sakura Gardens Beautification – Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: Sakura Gardens Senior Living Facility
Hosted by: USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association

When walking through the community gardens at Sakura Gardens, a senior care home in Boyle Heights, one can tell that at one point it was incredibly beautiful. A bed of roses, a pair of apple trees, even a namesake sakura cherry tree hidden way towards the back. However, in recent years, the community garden has seen a lack of care –grass and weeds have now overgrown the more delicate plants and now make it incredibly difficult to provide basic care for even the larger trees. However, it isn’t for lack of effort. Up until last year, two seniors –one in her 80s and the second in her 90s–had been the sole caretakers of the entire garden. A few months ago, one of them passed away. This is where USC Trojans stepped in–helping the remaining caretaker of the community garden clear the dense grass and remove invasive weeds. Slowly, as we cleared the grass and weeds away, we all started re-discovering the beauty of the community garden that had been hidden away for so many years.

— Martin Nguyen

Help Pregnant Women in Need – Orange, CA

Benefiting: Casa Teresa
Hosted by: USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association

Casa Teresa offers housing and educational programs to pregnant homeless women, equipping them with the necessary skills to live independently.

Every month they receive new clothes donated by manufacturers. We sorted and prepared them to be sold at their thrift shop that provides funding for Casa Teresa which houses as many as 35 mothers and children. Some of the volunteers even bought clothes–it was a perfect day.

— Stephen Takeda ’80

Collect Sports Gear and Equipment for Underprivileged Youth – Granada Hills, CA

Benefiting: A2Z Athletics
Hosted by: Lusine Lalabekyan ’98

This project was inspired by our son and his love for sports. We hosted this project with him. Sports is a big part of his life and this project was a means for us to give back to our community and benefit other kids and teens who love sports but may not be able to play because of the financial burden associated with the cost of gear and equipment. This was a drop-off event, but some of the volunteers collected and sorted the donations which will be distributed to various organizations benefiting underprivileged youth.

— Lusine Lalabekyan

Provide Basic Necessities to Migrants Living in Encampments – CDMX, Mexico

Benefiting: Fundación Humano y Libre AC
Hosted by: USC Mexico Office

SCervice is my favorite alumni engagement event of the year, and I love participating. It gets me to do some community service and learn about different parts of the city and to interact with people from different backgrounds. This year we collected donations for breakfast items, hygiene items, and clothes and shoes, and took them to migrants living in street encampments. We got to meet and speak with migrants from Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Honduras, Nicaragua and Haiti, many of whom are traveling with children, and who were all very appreciative of a little conversation and some help with basic necessities. We learned about some of the hardships the migrants are living with and we were able to bring some cheer to one of the city’s most vulnerable and overlooked populations.

— Angela McCracken

Ocean Front Street Clean-Up – Redondo Beach, CA

Benefiting: Keep the Esplanade Beautiful
Hosted by: Tiffany Aguirre ’91

I hosted this project because I am a lifelong community member, and the Esplanade is a short, unique ocean-front walk, and this organization’s mission is to maintain and enhance it.

— Tiffany Aguirre

Food Box Assembly and Distribution – Los Angeles, CA

Benefiting: AfricActive
Hosted by: USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association

I hosted a project this year after becoming involved in AfricActive at a previous Day of SCervice. Through its weekly food distribution, AfricActive addresses the pressing need for food security among vulnerable populations, exacerbated by economic challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosting the event for USC alumni is a great way to foster a sense of solidarity and support within our community.

By organizing the food distribution event, we not only address immediate hunger but also contribute to the long-term resilience of our community.

Volunteers set up the food distribution site, unloaded all of the donated food and supplies, and packed and distributed family boxes to everybody who came to the site.

— Stephanie Chow

Volunteer to Support Alzheimer’s Research – San Diego, CA

Benefiting: Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute & Sharp Mesa Vista
Hosted by: Keck School of Medicine of USC

I hosted this project as a proud San Diego alum, who is lucky enough to work for our alma mater in my hometown for a cause that means so much to me personally. My paternal grandfather died of Alzheimer’s and my maternal grandmother currently suffers from dementia. The Keck School of Medicine of USC Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute put on an amazing event with over 250 attending, with over 90 people participating in AlzMatch, and including all our local Alzheimer’s partners. We had over 30 Day of SCervice volunteers make the day possible. We also screened the film Remembering Gene Wilder and welcomed Karen B. Wilder at the event.

This work has helped us in our efforts to provide the most up-to-date Alzheimer’s research information to our community. Currently there are over 100,000 people living with Alzheimer’s disease in San Diego.

— Shelly Moore

Plant and Learn About Healthy Veggies, Pasadena, CA

Benefiting: Families Forward Learning Center
Hosted by: Cheryl Holcomb ’81

My USC alumni group–USC Trojan Affiliates–asked if I would chair a Day of SCervice project. I said yes because my friend and fellow TA member is the director of Families Forward preschool. It is an amazing program in Pasadena CA that also educates parents. As a retired teacher, it was a great opportunity to serve children and their families along with fellow alumni. What an amazing day with some of the kindest alumni ever!! Everyone gained through this fabulous event by planting and learning about veggies!

— Cheryl Holcomb

Pack Humanitarian Aid Items for the Homeless – UPC Campus

Benefiting: Khalsa Peace Corps’ Share A Meal Program
Hosted by: Ravinder Singh ’91

The Share A Meal project of Khalsa Peace Corps hosted a project this year to confirm our hunch that USC alumni and others would like to give back to their local community, and would spend a couple hours packing humanitarian aid packages that would later be distributed to neighbors in need in the local USC community. The USC/URC location, the no experience required, and the short weekend time slot yielded an enthusiastic response. The ages spanned from middle school to retirement age. The volunteers were so motivated that they packed 200 full humanitarian aid packages and 150 feminine hygiene packages in the first hour. We could tell that next year, we can more than double our output!

The Share A Meal project of Khalsa Peace Corps hosted a project this year to confirm our hunch that USC alumni and others would like to give back to their local community, and would spend a couple hours packing humanitarian aid packages that would later be distributed to neighbors in need in the local USC community. The USC/URC location, the no experience required, and the short weekend time slot yielded an enthusiastic response. The ages spanned from middle school to retirement age. The volunteers were so motivated that they packed 200 full humanitarian aid packages and 150 feminine hygiene packages in the first hour. We could tell that next year, we can more than double our output!

The items we were packing were in part corporate donations, and in part purchased through donated funds from individuals, businesses and grants such as the USC Good Neighbors Grant Program. Everyone was thankful to have been part of the project, and some were motivated to follow through on nightly person-to-person distribution with the USC Share A Meal student club.

It was a rewarding project to sponsor and we look forward to expanding our output next year.

— Ravinder Singh

Ocean Beach Clean-Up – San Francisco, CA

Benefiting: TogetherSF
Hosted by: USC Marshall Alumni Bay Area

Partnering with TogetherSF to help clean up Ocean Beach, a popular sand beach adjacent to Golden Gate Park, was a wonderful opportunity to bring Trojans in the Bay Area together to beautify a gathering place we have all enjoyed. In a time when there are a lot of negative opinions about San Francisco, it was a joy to show up for our community and remove litter that could have been dangerous to wildlife and people. The manager of the Ocean Beach Cafe is a passionate resident, and he spoke on behalf of the community with words of appreciation for helping to keep their neighborhood clean. In 2 hours, our group filled dozens of trash bags with waste from across Ocean Beach, including plastic wrappers, cigarette butts, broken glass, and oddities like a rusted old power tool and a wine corkscrew! We are proud to say the area is clean, safe and beautiful now for all the people enjoying their time at the beach because of the work we did.

— Seth Novosel

Help People with Food Insecurities – Albuquerque, NM

Benefiting: Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico
Hosted by: USC Alumni in New Mexico

I’ve hosted this project for several years. New Mexico has a small number of alumni who gather for game watches and the SCervice project. It has grown slightly in the past few years, with hope of a better football team.

The project usually helps the food banks around town. People in NM are poor and need the food bank to help feed families.

Volunteers get to know each and feel good helping others.

— Diane DeReyes

Sort and Organize Donated Clothes – Irvine, CA

Benefiting: Working Wardrobes
Hosted by: USC Marshall Alumni Association of Orange County

USC Alumni Day of SCervice is such a wonderful tradition and one of my very favorite annual USC events! While it always feels good to give back to the local community, it is extra special to support a worthwhile cause while volunteering with my fellow alumni!

For the past 8 years, I have participated in the USC Marshall Alumni of Orange County’s SCervice project in partnership with the Working Wardrobes Donation Center located in Irvine. I have enjoyed serving as the Day of SCervice Event Co-Lead for the past two years.

I continue to be involved with Alumni Day of SCervice and truly enjoy hosting this event because of the sense of community and the opportunity for alumni engagement that this event naturally provides as we all work together to better our community. I love seeing Trojans of all ages working side by side while getting to know each other in such a casual, organic way.

USC Alumni Day of Service is often an alum’s first time getting re-engaged with their alma mater since graduation. As a result, this event provides a wonderful opportunity for us to share more about USC Marshall Alumni of Orange County and to encourage them to attend one of our upcoming alumni engagement events and to bring their Trojan friends, as our events are open to all alumni. We also share the many ways for our project’s volunteers to stay engaged and involved with the Marshall School of Business, the university, and the Trojan Family.

Working Wardrobes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to help people overcome barriers to gainful employment. Through their Rebuilding Careers program, clients gain access to a wide range of career readiness services at no cost to their clients, all completely individualized and delivered with the utmost dignity and respect. No matter what stands between a client and gainful employment, their Rebuilding Careers program will help their clients achieve The Power of a Paycheck™.

Working Wardrobes was so appreciative that our entire group showed up on time, excited to volunteer, and ready to get to work! We handled a variety of responsibilities from the intake of clothing donations being dropped off at the front to sorting, hanging, steaming and organizing clothes by type to then be sent off to either the Working Wardrobes Career Center or to one of their three stores located in Laguna Niguel, Costa Mesa and Garden Grove. Sales from their three stores directly support the clients of Working Wardrobes.

Participating in USC Alumni Day of SCervice always makes me feel extra proud to be a Trojan and serves as a reminder that the power and strength of the Trojan Family is lifelong and worldwide as more than 2,000 Trojan alumni worldwide were volunteering and doing amazing things to better their communities on the same day!

— Victoria Graveline Waiss

Play at Boys and Girls Club – San Pedro, CA

Benefiting: Boys and Girls Club of the Los Angeles Harbor
Hosted by: Trojan League of South Bay

Our local Boys and Girls Club are deserving kids in the San Pedro/Wilmington area who benefited from a “Saturday of fun.” We hosted 68 kids and had 30 volunteers PLUS 5 USC Trojan athletes (3 basketball and 2 track and field) come to play. We did several arts and crafts projects, had a healthy Smoothie station (manned by USC students) and basketball play. Due to the rain, we were not able to utilize the John Colich field for outdoor games. Hopefully next year!

It was wonderful for the kids to see student athletes giving back and having fun playing!

— Franci Agajanian