Walden University’s Global Day of Service Unites Thousands of Volunteers to Make a Difference

Minneapolis—October 12, 2012—More than 2,500 volunteers from Walden University’s international community of students, alumni, faculty and staff, along with their friends, family and colleagues, gathered in more than 700 cities in 15 countries during the seventh annual Global Day of Service on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, to demonstrate the impact that social change agents can make in just 24 hours.

Walden’s Global Day of Service was a tipping point for families in our Maine neighborhood to band together to remove debris and trash that had collected over the last 100 years in the marshy basin behind many of our houses,” said Dr. Bethe Hagens, faculty member in the School of Public Policy and Administration and a Global Day of Service project leader. “For our neighborhood, this project is about the sustainability of our multigenerational community. We knew this project was something that we all wanted to do in order to pass along a safe and beautiful place to future generations.”

Members of the Walden community led more than 150 community service projects including providing health screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar; working in food banks; cleaning and cooking in Ronald McDonald Houses; holding drives to donate food, clothing, infant and maternity items and coats for veterans; and cleaning up roads, beaches and parks. Others participated in individual projects including writing letters supporting U.S. troops and sending postcards to ill children.

“Walden’s commitment and dedication to social change has not only inspired and encouraged my studies, but has also inspired others from all corners of the globe. Through this year’s Global Day of Service, I led a team of volunteers for a family festival that benefitted Mercy Housing in Lynwood, Wash., an organization that provides low-income housing for a diverse group of families and a stable home where children can complete their education,” said Monica Dunnagan, a Walden MS in Psychology graduate, current PhD in Psychology student and Global Day of Service project leader.

Since its founding in 1970, Walden has attracted a community of lifelong learners who share a common desire to make a difference. Walden students, alumni, faculty and staff members bring Walden’s mission to life through research, conferences and service projects focused on effecting positive social change. To learn more about Walden’s ongoing commitment to social change, visit www.WaldenU.edu/socialchange.

About Walden University
For more than 40 years, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 48,500 students from all 50 states and more than 140 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees online at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network—a global network of more than 60 campus-based and online universities in 29 countries.

Walden offers more than 65 degree programs with more than 330 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, education, public health, nursing, public administration and information technology. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.hlcommission.org.