It is time once again for chapters to begin planning for successful Project Graduation events. The impact chapters have had in their local communities has been tremendous since Project Graduation was adopted as a civic engagement initiative in 2002. Nearly 440,000 food items and 355,000 books have been collected and donated to local community relief organizations.

There is a need now more than ever for chapters to take part in tackling the issues of hunger and low literacy rates that plague so many communities. Project Graduation is a simple and effective way to address these issues while encouraging civic engagement among community college graduates and students. Chapters are encouraged to participate in Project Graduation throughout the year, or in conjunction with a graduation event such as commencement or rehearsal - depending on what works best for the individual chapter. There are a few keys that will help make Project Graduation a success for every chapter, regardless of location or size.

Start Early

One of the first and most important steps to experiencing success in Project Graduation is to submit an Enrollment Form. When you enroll in Project Graduation, you will receive a planning packet containing a planning guide and posters to help you organize and publicize your Project Graduation event. Another advantage of starting early is having more time to find a local organization to receive your chapter's donations; this is helpful when publicizing your event. Including the name of the organization you are assisting will give more validity to your program and may encourage more people to donate.

Set Goals

An important part of the planning process is knowing where you want to go, or in the case of Project Graduation, how much you want to collect. As you begin planning your program, set a goal for the amount that you want to reach. This will help maintain your chapter's excitement for Project Graduation throughout the year and give your chapter members a great sense of accomplishment when you reach your goal.

Use the Resources

There are numerous resources on the Project Graduation website that will help your chapter succeed in Project Graduation. Reports from previous years indicate that chapters who use the resources typically have successful Project Graduation events. The downloadable posters, Project Graduation PowerPoint and media resources aid your chapter in informing your campus about Project Graduation.

Follow Up

No Project Graduation event is complete until you report your success. In order to track the overall impact of the program, participating chapters must submit success forms. In addition, your chapter will receive the recognition it deserves when you report. Every chapter that submits a success form will receive a certificate and a congratulatory letter.

Empower Your Community

Project Graduation is a dynamic program because it is an easy way to empower members of your community to get involved in making your community a better place, but more importantly, the items that are donated to local community relief agencies help empower individuals to make themselves better. Enroll in Project Graduation and begin empowering your community, one can of food and one book at a time.

For additional information about how your chapter can participate in Project Graduation, contact Chapter Programs Coordinator Garon Tate at 601.984.3555