Community Service

Community Involvement

A goal of the L.A. Chapter of the IU Alumni Association is to be actively involved in community service events. Our most recent event was a Heal The Bay beach cleanup in Santa Monica. We have also participated in Wildlife Wayside. We are planning to join these efforts again in the future.

Volunteer to Read to Kids

A great organization called Reading to Kids is looking for volunteers to read to children (grades K-5). The reading clubs meet the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon at five elementary schools near downtown Los Angeles.

First-time volunteers participate in a training session about reading aloud to children. Returning volunteers review the books and develop topics of discussion and craft ideas. Children are signed in by teachers and administrators, and the fun begins at 10 a.m.

The children are divided into several small groups by grade level. First-time volunteers are paired with returning volunteers and assigned to each of these "reading club" groups. The volunteers read a pre-assigned book during a 90-minute session, which also includes an arts and crafts project related to the book being read. At the end of the session, volunteers provide each child with a book of his or her own as a reward for attending.

To volunteer, go to www.readingtokids.org and sign up. They will ask you to pick a school — we have decided to volunteer at Magnolia Elementary School at 1626 S. Orchard Ave. in Los Angeles 90006, phone (213) 748-6281. There should also be a pull-down selection where you can pick IU Alumni Club, which will automatically sign you up to volunteer at Magnolia.

Please sign up by 3 p.m. the day before (Friday) the reading club is to be held, but the sooner the better (they do fill up). Don't worry &ndash you are not committed to go every month, just when you can.

It is a great way to give back to the community and a lot of fun.

We are looking for alumni chapter members who are willing to help plan community service events.

Volunteer!

Visit the volunteer page for details.