Ivy Tech seeks community partners and volunteers for 1000 hours of service challenge

Ivy Tech’s Bloomington campus invites the community to volunteer in a day of service challenge on Friday, April 22, as part of its three-day annual O’Bannon Institute for Community Service event. In the spirit of this year’s event theme, “How Community Works and Why You Should Care,” Ivy Tech students, faculty and staff will be volunteering that day and need the community’s help to reach a goal of providing 1,000 hours of service in 24 hours.

“This year, we’re doing something a little different on the Friday of the O’Bannon Institute. We’re inviting the community to participate in a Day of Service at a scale we’ve never attempted before,” said Chancellor Jennie Vaughan. “So far, nearly 85 people have already signed up for the Day of Service Challenge, and four local businesses have committed as community partners. We encourage additional local businesses and service organizations to volunteer together with us and report their hours so that we meet our goal.”

Volunteers are invited to a kick-off event and continental breakfast starting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 22 at Ivy Tech, featuring former Indiana First Lady, Judy O’Bannon. Kick-off attendees will also receive an O’Bannon Institute T-shirt before they head out to volunteer.

There are two ways to join Ivy Tech’s 1,000 hours of service challenge. To volunteer in an Ivy Tech organized project, visit www.ivytech.edu/obannnon and click Day of Service. You can also make your own plans with an organization that needs your help on Friday, April 22, and then report your plans and log your hours at www.ivytech.edu/obannon so we can reach our goal of 1,000 hours. Participants are encouraged to share photos of the day on social media using #IvyTech1000Hours.

Ivy Tech has volunteer opportunities with the Bloomington Community Orchard, Hannah Center, The Rise, Adopt-a-Road, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Bloomington Parks and Recreation, Shalom Center, Salvation Army, Bloomington AIDS Walk, Stepping Stones, WildCare, Inc., Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation, Area 10 Agency on Aging, Becky’s Place, and the Bedford Public Library.

The day of service is part of Ivy Tech Bloomington’s 13th annual O’Bannon Institute for Community Service. Tickets are still available for the O’Bannon Institute fundraising dinner with Lee H. Hamilton on Thursday, April 21, though seating is limited. The dinner will take place on Ivy Tech’s main campus in Shreve Hall. Ticket proceeds benefit the Center for Civic Engagement. Individual tickets cost $100 and Platinum, Gold, and Silver sponsorships are available. To purchase tickets or a sponsorship, visit www.ivytech.edu/obannon, call Tina Phelps at (812) 330-6001 or email tphelps@ivytech.edu.

Top sponsors of this year’s event include American Structurepoint, Inc., Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, Cook Medical, The Herald-Times, Ivy Tech Foundation and Smithville Fiber.

The O’Bannon Institute for Community Service (www.ivytech.edu/obannon/) at Ivy Tech Bloomington was established in 2004 as an annual opportunity for the community to come together to discuss issues of importance. Previous speakers at the Institute include U.S. senators, Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, governors, political advisers and columnists, presidential candidate George McGovern, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, former first lady of the United States Laura W. Bush, Ret. General Colin Powell and last year, humanitarian Bob Geldof.