Here’s a little clip for Teresa’s letter:

When the students arrived, I was overjoyed with their kindness and thorough skills in organization and how quickly they put my mess in order.

Read the full letter here. We love hearing from our neighbors in Lawrence about their experiences with the Big Event!

Here’s a brief excerpt from the article:

It takes a lot of coordination to match that many volunteers with work assignments across the city, but the increased numbers must indicate that results of the event are satisfying for both the volunteers and those they help.

Read the full article here.

Participation has increased drastically since the first year of the Big Event. In 2011, about 500 volunteers completed projects at 80 job sites in Lawrence neighborhoods. Last year, 2,000 volunteers performed tasks at 200 job sites. This year had the largest participation rate so far with 3,000 volunteers at 400 job sites.

Read the full article here, and see the UDK’s photo gallery of the event here.

The first year saw fewer than 500 volunteers working at fewer than 80 sites, Big Event executive director Lauren Reinhart, a Kansas City, Mo., senior said. Last year saw about 2,000 volunteers at about 180 sites.

On Saturday, about 3,000 volunteers worked at about 400 sites.

The full article and an accompanying photo gallery are available here.

Registration for KU students, faculty and staff interested in volunteering during the Big Event will open early in the spring 2014 semester. Lawrence residents will be able to submit job requests for tasks such as landscaping and house cleaning at that time, as well.

On Saturday, April 13, 2013, the Big Event recruited 3,000 KU volunteers to complete tasks at nearly 400 locations around the Lawrence community. We hope to continue to expand our reach and make the Big Event better and more helpful as we start planning for the 2014 edition.

Registration for KU students, faculty and staff interested in volunteering during the Big Event will open early in the spring 2014 semester. Lawrence residents will be able to submit job requests for tasks such as landscaping and house cleaning at that time, as well.

On Saturday, April 13, 2013, the Big Event recruited 3,000 KU volunteers to complete tasks at nearly 400 locations around the Lawrence community. We hope to continue to expand our reach and make the Big Event better and more helpful as we start planning for the 2014 edition.

We’d like to send out a HUGE thanks to the following sponsoring and supporting organizations:

Student Senate | Coca-Cola | Student Union Activities | KU Office of Public Affairs | The Home Depot | KU Memorial Unions | Union Programs | KU Dining

KU Student Housing | AURH | NRHH | Kansas Public Radio | The Kindel Family | Weaver’s | Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, P.A.

KU Honors Program Student Council | KJHK 90.7 FM | Panera Bread | Checkers | Walmart | Noodles & Company | Lawrence GiveBack | Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

Registration is at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, in Lot 90, near the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center. Group leaders will go through the check-in line and pick up tools for their group. Everyone will get a Big Event T-shirt, and participate in our kickoff ceremony at 9:45 a.m.

Be sure to get each member of your group to sign the Participant Signup form — trade this in for a group packet at check-in. We’ll also need a signed Volunteer Statement of Understanding.

Volunteers will leave for job sites starting at 10 a.m. All service projects will be completed by 2 p.m. Each group will need to come back to the Big Event kickoff site to return supplies and job site surveys.

Find additional information on what to expect Saturday in our Big Event Participant Information Meeting presentation.

We’re excited to see 3,000 KU students, faculty and staff volunteer at 375 job sites around the Lawrence community on Saturday!

During the meeting, there will be a short presentation outlining the how-to for volunteer check-in on Saturday, April 13. Everyone attending the meeting will receive:

• A group roster with contact information for everyone in your volunteer group
• A description of your group’s job site for Saturday
• Signup forms and waivers
• Additional reminders and how-to tips for Saturday’s event

A HUGE thank you to everyone who registered themselves or as a group leader.

Learn more about the meeting here.

The Big Event’s mission is to unite KU students, faculty and staff with the Lawrence community, foster a culture of service through collaboration, and continue the tradition of giving back through our one big day, one big thanks, and one big event. As a student leader for the Big Event, you will have the opportunity to establish the groundwork of a long-lasting tradition.

Applications for those interested in executive team are due at 5 p.m. Friday, April 19; committee co-chair and coordinator positions are due by 5 p.m. Friday, April 26. Please be sure to read and complete every part of the application.

Sincerely,

Lauren Reinhart
Executive Director, The Big Event at KU
Bigeventku.director@gmail.com

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Big Event leadership application timeline:

• Applications open: Wednesday, March 27
• The Big Event 2013: Saturday, April 13
• Application deadline: Executive committee deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, April 19; committee chair/coordinator deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, April 26
• Executive committee interviews and selection: Tuesday, April 23 (evening)
• Committee chair/coordinator interviews and selection: Tuesday, April 30 (evening)
• First meeting for new Big Event board members: Tuesday, May 7

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Big Event leadership position descriptions

Big Event leadership requirements

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Big Event Executive Committee application

Big Event Committee Chair and Coordinator application