Texas Exes, Students Team Up on Huge Volunteer Project

By Jordan Schraeder in Chapters, Special, TXEX on February 28, 2012 at 10:54 am | No Comments

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A month of service by the Texas Exes came to a head last weekend when the Austin Chapter joined forces with The Project, UT’s largest day of service.

More than 2,000 volunteers—1,600 UT students, 110 St. Edward’s University students, 205 staff members, and 130 alumni—committed to giving up their Saturday to give back to Austin’s underserved Dove Springs community.

Before heading out to one of 12 worksites in the Dove Springs area, the volunteers packed the gym of Mendez Middle School bright and early for a kick-off celebration.

“What got y’all up today is a service heart,” said Leslie Cedar, Texas Exes CEO and executive director, at the ceremony.

Cedar also had the opportunity to spread the word about Texas Exes Care—where more than 50 chapters across the nation, in London and beyond volunteered in their communities during the month of February—to the current UT students and future Exes.

Approximately 130 Austin Exes got down and dirty for their service project at Dove Springs Recreation Center, pulling weeds, scraping fences, laying mulch, and painting curbs to better the popular venue’s appearance and accessibility.

“I’m so impressed by how many people are involved,” says Austin Chapter board member Lee Maaz. “The turnout ranges from students in high school and college to the Exes. It’s really what UT stands for.”

In its 13th year, the Project has earned nods from Keep Austin Beautiful and the state Legislature for its continued dedication to the Austin community—and its coordinators hope that, through collaboration with the Texas Exes, it only goes up from here.

“The Project and Texas Exes Care prove that what starts here really does change the world,” says Texas Exes assistant director of chapters Laura Carpenter.

And it’s not over yet. Look for more updates as chapters continue to serve their communities in the last few days of February for Texas Exes Care!

Photos by Jeff Heimsath.

Tags: Dove Springs, Leslie Cedar, texas exes care, the project