Pepperdine Volunteer Center

Volunteer Opportunities

Step Forward Day
Saturday, September 12, 2009

*Registration is closed. If you have not registered but would still like to serve, please come to the Smothers Theater Parking Lot at 7AM and we will place you with a group then. If you have any changes to your registration please email Ashley Nolan at ashley.nolan@pepperdine.edu.

History of Step Forward Day

Step Forward Day began in 1988 from the vision of two students who recognized the need for volunteers in the local community and wanted to share their passion for service with their peers. The projects began as small acts of service from helping with repairs on homes of local senior citizens to planting gardens at Webster Elementary. Today, 20 years later, the reach of Step Forward Day has grown to include over 50 community organizations spanning from Ventura County to Downtown Los Angeles and involves 1,400 students, staff and faculty members on our Malibu Campus as well as alumni chapters across the nation. However, the founding vision for this event remains true. Step Forward Day is a simple yet profound way for the Pepperdine community to be a neighbor and to participate in our mission and calling. By serving a meal in a soup kitchen, planting a tree in our local mountains or elementary school, reading a book to a child, lending a helping hand to a teacher, or cleaning up a local park we stand alongside the people in our community who dedicate their lives to serving others. We communicate to them that their work is important and essential and hopefully, renew our commitment to live our lives of purpose, service and leadership.

Impact

Each year, the Pepperdine community comes together for a day of service. Over 1400 students, faculty, staff and alumni gather to help over 50 non-profit organizations, schools, churches and parks that span from downtown Los Angeles to Ventura County. During this one day the Pepperdine community served a collective 4200 hours (equivalent to 2 years of work for one person). For the volunteers, the tradition of Step Forward Day reflects a commitment that lasts beyond this single day of service. It is a great way to start the year out right, the chance to make new friends, and to prepare oneself to "step forward" for the rest of the year.

Schedule of the Day

7AM: Check-in (Smother's Theater Parking Lot) *Note: Check-in times will vary for each group.  You will be notified of your specific check-in time on Friday, September 11th via email.

9AM-1:30PM: Service at work site *Note:groups will arrive back to campus between 12:30 and 1:30PM, depending on their departure time.

1:30-3:00: In 'N Out Lunch, Reflection, and Volunteer Fair at Alumni Park.

Please feel free to contact the Volunteer Center with any questions: (310) 506-4143.