WHAT: More than 530 incoming first-year and transfer Rollins students will take part Thursday in a Central Florida-wide community service project before they even step foot in a classroom.

The service program, called SPARC (Service Philanthropy Activism Rollins College), is the only one of its kind in the state of Florida. Students will take part in various community service projects at 21 locations across Central Florida, including everything from landscaping to sorting food pantry items to setting up computers.

WHEN: Thursday, August 20 (from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)  

WHERE: Various locations throughout Central Florida. The six locations listed are the best for visual media.  A complete list of organizations is available.

• A Gift For Teaching – 6501 Magic Way, Bldg. #400C, Orlando, FL  32809
• Destiny Foundation – 150 Michigan Ave., Suite A, Orlando, FL 32806
• Fern Creek Elementary – 1121 N. Fern Creek Ave., Orlando, FL  32803
• Genius Reserve – 301 Genius Drive, Winter Park, FL 32789
• Keep Winter Park Beautiful – 410 Ollie Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789
• Second Harvest Food Bank – 1918 W. Princeton St., Orlando, FL  32804

VISUALS:

• Get pictures/video of Rollins students working in the community
• Interview students and administrators about the importance of community service

BACKGROUND:

SPARC is the culmination of fall orientation for new students and is sponsored by Rollins’ Office of Community Engagement. The 645 SPARC participants (including peer mentors, students, faculty, etc.) and 100 volunteers will provide 1,935 hours of community service. This is the seventh year incoming Rollins students have participated in community service projects at the beginning of the school year. The goal is to teach students their community consists of more than just a college campus.