What Do We Do?
An Overview of Our Projects
Akaanksha - a school in Bhopal, India for children with Cerebral Palsy, which affects a persons ability to move and maintain their balance and posture. The Rotaract club is raising money for a school bus to help transport the children whose parents cannot regularly transport them to the school. Regular attendance to the school will help the children progress consistently.
- Akaanksha Poster - this poster will tell you everything you need to know about the Akaanksha school and our efforts
- Akaanksha Letterhead This document contains information for sending donations to the Penn State Rotaract Club to help out with our Akaanksha Project
- Akaanksha is our International Project
Capture the Flag Tournament - with Urban Gaming Club
Friday Night Lights Out - is aimed at helping the University minimize pollution and reduce its $1 million a month electric bill. It's estimated that students turn off approximately 1,500 to 2,500 light bulbs every Friday night. See the Penn State Live news article here
The Oaks at Pleasant Gap- an Assisted Living Home located in Pleasant Gap, PA. Every week (on Monday evenings) during the academic school year a group of volunteers drive to The Oaks to spend an hour or more with the residents. During that time the students engage the residents in various activities; these include: playing games, interacting, manicures, etc. Some of the games the residents enjoy are Wii bowling, bingo (pokeno), and cards. Since this activity is done on a regular basis, we develop relations with the residents, and they form similar bonds with us. This only increases the importance of commitment. If you would like to attend these sessions please email Bhakti
Red Cross Blood Drive - Fact: Every two seconds someone in America needs blood. Fact:The Red Cross serves as the bridge between over 4 million generous blood donors and millions of patients in need each year. The American Red Cross serves over 3,000 hospitals around the United States. They deliver a wide range of high quality blood products and blood donor and patient testing services.
Relay For Life - the American Cancer Society’s signature activity. It offers everyone in a community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Relays are an overnight event, up to 24 hours in length. Teams of people from all walks of life have fun while raising much-needed funds to fight cancer and raise awareness of cancer prevention and treatment. This year, the Relay for Life at Penn State took place from 4:00PM on April 17th to 4:00PM on April 18th 2009.
Salvation Army - to benefit the Salvation Army, and their mission to help families who are not quite as fortunate during the holiday season, we help these individuals by asking for spare change in the regular Salvation Army fashion: by standing in front of stores and ringing bells. We usually do this for a few weekends a year, and a few days on the weekends. We raise this money as part of the Salvation Army and are recognized as such.
Shaver's Creek - Penn State's very own nature center. We often participate in a number activities throughout the year at Shaver's Creek including Pancake breakfasts to celebrate and educate about the fall season, a Halloween drive for children, and many others.
Stride for Awareness - with Alpha Phi Omega
THON - The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, with all proceeds benefiting The Four Diamonds Fund, Conquering Childhood Cancer, at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. After a year-round fundraising effort by the students of all Penn State campuses, THON culminates in a 46 hour no-sitting, no-sleep Dance Marathon in the Bryce Jordan Center.