Archive: Around Town

The Ithaca College and Cornell University Student United Way groups received national recognition for their service to United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) and the community at the United Way Worldwide Community Leaders Conference, May 15, in National Harbor, Maryland.

Ithaca College Student United Way (IC SUW) received the EDUCATION Promising Practice Award, and Cornell University Student United Way (CU SUW) received the GIVE Promising Practice Award. They will be invited to present their promising practices at the annual Student United Way conference in Alexandria, VA in September.

UWTC President and CEO James Brown said, “These awards speak volumes about the engagement, caring and capacity of Cornell and Ithaca College students.  Across this global United Way program, Tompkins County is the only community that has two winning campus organizations.  UWTC is honored to partner with the students on this important work that is strengthening our area today and for years to come.”

Student United Ways are campus-based clubs or organizations led by students on more than eighty campuses in four countries. These student leaders are advancing the common good by giving, advocating, and volunteering in an effort to improve the education, income, and health of their community.


Ithaca College Student United Way, led by Moriah Petty ‘14, was recognized for its integral role in launching the UWTC Youth Venture program. In this program high school students learn that they can create social change by developing sustainable, community-benefiting ventures. IC SUW members not only provided $1,000 of seed funding to the Youth Venture teams, but also coached the students and helped them develop skills in leadership, communication, research, fundraising, budgeting and marketing. With the support of IC SUW, Youth Venture students are developing three ventures: a gender equality curriculum for elementary school students; a social media initiative that redefines standards of beauty; and a club that provides extracurricular activities for 6th graders in Dryden.

Cornell University Student United Way, led by Christina Roberti ’14 and Sam Coleman ‘15, was recognized for serving as the primary funder of the Stephen E. Garner Summers of Service internship/job program. This important teen employment initiative awards paid internships ($1,500 each) to area youth at United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) partner organizations. These positions give high school students the opportunity to learn firsthand about civic engagement and the health and human services sector in Tompkins County during their summer break. During the summer of 2013 six rising high school seniors were hired at six UWTC agencies.

v10i19