Help our students get there!

This fund empowers more UMBC students to have a broader choice in how they connect with the community to address critical challenges through life-changing service-learning and community engagement experiences. In turn, students are building networks with others interested in similar social justice issues. We seek to provide financial support to students using their own vehicles to transport other UMBC students and/or funds necessary each week to engage with their respective service sites. With your support, we can make this happen! 

Why does this matter?

Our non-profit, K-12, and public agency partners report that UMBC students increase their capacity to meet their respective missions and serve as positive role models to youth to “Be Their Best Self.” Because students are UMBC’s greatest resource, we seek to broaden our reach to those for whom transportation is a barrier to sharing in the mutually beneficial relationships service experiences provide. Over the last few years, the Service-Learning & Community Engagement Team has facilitated approximately 1,000 placements each year, with the majority of them off-campus. 

Sites include Reading Partners (serving elementary-aged students in a number of Baltimore City schools), B’More Clubhouse, Audubon Center at Patterson Park, Paul’s Place, Walking Discovery, MS Aquatics at Catonsville YMCA, Saint Agnes Hospital, the Baltimore Community ToolBank, and the Sherman Center’s Early Literacy Program at Bay Brook and Curtis Bay Elementary/Middle Schools. Additionally, we work with other student organizations who seek to uplift the community such as AIM, (Achievement and Inspiration through Mentorship) at Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School and REACH Initiative (Lansdowne HS, Cristo Rey Jesuit HS).  UMBC’s Transit continues to be a great resource to connect UMBC students to some of our local elementary schools (Relay, Halethorpe, Hillcrest); however, most of these sites are not easily accessible via Transit routes and/or the MTA.

Data has shown that that applied learning experiences, particularly service-learning, increase student’s performance (GPA) and persistence to graduation. This crowdfunding campaign allows alumni, partners, and friends of The Shriver Center to support these goals and stay connected.

What are we funding?

The Shriver Center anticipates matching about 1,000 students with active service-learning environments this year. With sites across the city and surrounding counties, those trips add up quickly! Here is an example of the costs of travel for our students:

• Mileage reimbursements at $.58/mile (federal rate of reimbursement)

• Fort McHenry Toll ($4 each way)

• On-street parking ($2/hour on average)

Even a small gift will make a big difference. We hope you will share this opportunity with your networks as well! Each donor receives a unique link to track your impact -- just look for it in your gift receipt. Please help us get the word out, and share it with colleagues, friends, and family that might also be interested.

All funds raised are administered by the UMBC Foundation for the benefit of UMBC.