Redbirds came together to make a difference this June as Illinois State University celebrated #RedbirdImpact Month.
Six years ago, the Alumni Association’s Redbird Engagement and Development (RED) Committee launched #RedbirdImpact Month as part of its efforts to encourage alumni to be more civically engaged. The concept started when the committee began inviting alumni to participate in the Center for Civic Engagement’s Alternative Breaks Alumni Weekend.
Last year the Alumni Association, the Center for Civic Engagement, and the Office of Annual Giving developed the most robust #RedbirdImpact Month plan yet, challenging alumni and donors to practice civic engagement through service and philanthropy. After wide support and challenges met in 2023, the areas came back together this year to set higher goals of 450 service hours and 24 donors to support the Red and White Scholarship for 2024.
At the end of the month, the service challenge exceeded expectations with over 780 hours recorded. Annual Giving saw its goal almost doubled, with 40 donors contributing nearly $4,000 to the Red and White Scholarship in one month.
“Watching the number of service hours and the financial support increase each year is astounding. We watch our numbers grow, and are proud of what our Redbirds are accomplishing,” said Stephanie Duquenne ’04, M.S. ’15, senior director of Alumni Engagement. “The importance of giving back their time, talent, and treasure to their communities and to ISU make each #RedbirdImpact Month special and inspiring.”
Alumni networks across the country set up projects so Redbirds had the opportunity to serve, and just as important, an opportunity to connect. They cleaned parks, packed and labeled food at food banks, sorted and donated books, and worked at nonprofits. Individuals could share their #RedbirdImpact and enter to win the month’s prize package (with Pat Epsicokhan ’73 selected as the winner after giving time to the ISU Horticulture Center). Others shared:
- “I’m the president of the Board of Epilepsy Advocacy Network in Illinois and serve as an advisor for Alpha Ohi Omega.”—Rodger Salzman ’93
- “I finished my 10th year as a volunteer advisor for ISU’s chapter of Gamma Phi Beta. I look forward to continuing working with a great group of women.”— Amanda Thomison ’99
- “I volunteer at the Michigan Military Heritage Museum in Jackson. The museum is a nonprofit organization in my community. I help with events at the museum and represent the museum in local events. The museum also has a garden where I am able to apply the horticulture education I received from ISU.”—Ellen Nezger ’99
- “I volunteer at a resale shop whose proceeds support the Foothills Animal Rescue in Scottsdale, Arizona.”—Juanita Paulis ’94
- “A great month! I volunteer at the Male Mogul Initiative, a nonprofit on the south side of Chicago. We aim to help young men of color get into entrepreneurship and provide them with funding opportunities. We recently opened a business incubator called CoLLAB that fosters business development through creative arts, tech, and manufacturing.”—Edmund Jones ’11
- “I volunteer at my neighborhood elementary school in their first-grade reading program.”—Judith Gain ’76
- “I support ISU by serving on the Illinois Shakespeare Festival Board and am in charge of the annual Bard Bash. I also serve as chairperson of the scholarship committee for the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. I give back to our community by volunteering for Faith in Action, serving on the Illinois Symphony Guild, and writing the newsletter for our Sister City organization.”—Anita Carney ’73
- “I donate blood platelets every two weeks and plasma every month.”—Linda Clausen ’65
See more photos from ISU Service Day and the Chicago Suburban Alumni Network project. Alumni and friends interested in civic engagement opportunities or hosting an event during the year can contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at (309) 438-2586 or alumni@IllinoisState.edu.
