NEWARK, NJ. June 17, 2024 (Biz Republic) — More than 100 Berkeley College students, faculty, staff, and alumni recently supported the missions of 19 nonprofits and community organizations in New York and New Jersey during the College’s 14th annual Community Service Week. Since 2010, the College’s largest annual service initiative has contributed more than 16,000 hours of service.
“At Berkeley College, service is an important tradition that builds connections with our local communities,” said Diane Recinos, EdD, President of Berkeley College. “Each year, Berkeley College volunteers are excited to support the good works of local organizations and nonprofits, which often operate with limited budgets and staffing.”
This year, in addition to off-campus activities, volunteers came together on campus to build bicycles donated by Kent International Inc., a global sporting goods manufacturer with offices in Fairfield, NJ. The assembled bicycles will be donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Paterson and Passaic, Woodbridge Youth Center, CASA, FOCUS, and Sisters of Life.
Volunteers also participated in charity walks, including AIDS Walk New York in Manhattan, NY; and the Walk to Cure Arthritis in West Orange, NJ. A Berkeley College team knit hats and blankets for newborns at Hackensack Meridian – Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, NJ, and volunteers placed flags at the graves of veterans at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, NJ. Students participated in on-campus activities with The Sharing Shelf, which supports children and teens in Westchester County, NY.
In New Jersey, Berkeley College partnered with the Alfred H. Baumann Free Public Library in Woodland Park; the Borough of Woodland Park; the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in Hillside; Bessie Green Community Inc. in Newark; and George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus. In New York, volunteer organizations included Habitat for Humanity in Queens Village; and the New York Public Library in Manhattan.
Community Service Week is an initiative of BerkeleyCares, which throughout the year assists charities in the critical areas of food, shelter, health, and student success. The event supports the mission and values of Berkeley College, exemplifying that teaching and learning take place both in and out of the classroom.
ABOUT BERKELEY COLLEGE
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials.
Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 3,500 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for 11 consecutive years. Berkeley College is also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2023-2024 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey.