Carolina Center for Public Service - Public Service and Engagement at Carolina

Previous Seagraves Service Grants for Student Organizations

2007-2008  2006-2007  2005-2006   2004-2005

The Seagraves Service Grants for Student Organizations are available to all officially recognized UNC-Chapel Hill student organizations to support public service projects in North Carolina. Through the generosity of an alumnus, grants of up to $300 are awarded from a pool of $3,000. The program is named in honor of Mildred Yeager Seagraves, grandmother of the donor. Funds may be requested for any costs associated with the proposed service project, including supplies, travel, equipment, and other related programming expenses. Proposals are requested in the fall semester for projects to be completed by the end of the same academic year.

2007-2008 Grantees

 

Alpha Medical Association – IMPACT Part II
The American Medical Association Medical Student Section (AMA-MSS) of the UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine is partnered with Grady A. Brown Elementary School in Hillsborough to continue the "Improving Meals and Physical Activity in Children and Teenagers" program. The program features training for participating medical students to provide twelve weekly sessions in the elementary school. The group hopes to promote healthy eating behaviors and physical activity behaviors among students, and envisions this as a part of a sustained, targeted community effort to battle obesity and sedentary lifestyles.
Community Partner: Grady A. Brown Elementary School
Total Hours of Service: 25+
County Served: Orange

Carolina Pre-Medical Association – Healthier Kids = Brighter Futures
The Carolina Pre-Medical Association (CPMA) will host an interactive health fair for 100 children in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA after school program. The project will emphasize how easy and fun a healthy lifestyle can be, and will educate children about obesity, nutrition, physical activity, personal hygiene, and cold/flu prevention.
Community Partner: Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA
Total Hours of Service: 200
County Served: Orange

Domestic Violence Action Project – 50B Training
The Domestic Violence Action Project (DVAP) in the UNC School of Law is working with Legal Aid of North Carolina to provide free legal representation to victims of domestic violence who are seeking a civil domestic violence protective order (50B). The training will prepare students to represent victims in court. Law students also may attempt to obtain other types of relief for the victim such as temporary custody, possession of residency, automobiles, and/or other immediate necessities.
Community Partner: Legal Aid of North Carolina
Total Hours of Service:
County Served: Chatham, Orange

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. – Turkey Time
Kappa Alpha Psi is partnered with the Trinity Court/Prichard Park Family Resource Center to provide Thanksgiving turkeys to 55 low-income families in the community. The fraternity has a long-standing relationship with the community including tutoring to its children. This project works to continue and build upon the relationship that exists between the UNC students and the families.
Community Partner: Trinity Court/Prichard Park Family Resource Center
Total Hours of Service: 42
County Served: Orange

Native Health Initiative (SHAC) – A Day into Health
The Native Health Initiative (NHI) is a Carolina student initiative that aims to use the intellectual, financial and human capital resources of the UNC community to improve the poor health status of American Indians in North Carolina. "A Day into Health" will bring 20-25 American Indian teenagers to UNC-Pembroke for a six-hour interactive workshop, led by UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC-Pembroke students, in the hopes of inspiring them to pursue a career in the health care field.
Community Partner: University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Total Hours of Service: 200
Counties Served: Bladen, Columbus, Hoke, Robeson, Sampson

 

Presbyterian Campus Ministry – Elliott Woods Tutoring Field Trips
Presbyterian Campus Ministry (PCM) will enhance and strengthen its existing Elliott Woods tutoring program by providing two field trips (one fall and one spring) for the children in partnership with the Church of Reconciliation. Field trips include an educational film at the IMAX Theater and a trip to Mapleview Farms for ice cream and games. PCM looks to provide opportunities the students may not have otherwise, to strengthen mentoring relationships, and to offer incentives for educational endeavors.
Community Partner: Church of Reconciliation
Total Hours of Service: 100
County Served: Orange

Student Poverty Reduction Outreach – Hargraves Tax Center
The Student Poverty Reduction Outreach (SPROUT) and the Hargraves Community Center will provide free income tax filing assistance to low-income individuals. Trained UNC students operate the center and focus on determining if the applicant is eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. In two years, SPROUT has saved more than $61,000 in income from leaving the community through the filing center, and plans to expand the service this year with their grant.
Community Partner: Hargraves Community Center
Total Hours of Service: 200
County Served: Orange

 

 

2006-2007 Grantees

Alpha Phi Omega Senior Prom
Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity (APO) partnered with the Shepherd House adult care facility to foster intergenerational relationships through hosting a “senior prom.” At the event, 25 UNC students and 25 Shepherd House residents shared a great evening of conversation, music, dancing, and Hawaiian décor (click here for Daily Tar Heel article).
Community Partner: Shepherd House
Total Hours of Service: 80
County Served: Orange

 

Best Buddies Trip to Exploris
The UNC Chapel Hill chapter of Best Buddies , which pairs college students and adults with mental disabilities, organized a trip to the Exploris Museum in Raleigh to give 36 Buddies a chance to expand their horizons and learn about new cultures. The Buddies enjoyed the exhibits and viewed an IMAX film with 11 College Buddies.
Community Partner: Residential Services, Inc. (RSI, Inc.)
Total Hours of Service: 86
Counties Served: Durham, Orange

Circle K Boomerang Gardening Project
Members of UNC Circle K partnered with 25 students in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA Boomerang program (which serves high school students in short-term suspension) to create a garden for learning and enjoyment. Grant funds were used to print and distribute the “Boomerang Garden Guide,” an educational booklet that included information and fun facts about the different plants in the garden and garden related puzzles and games.
Community Partner: Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA
Total Hours of Service: 65
County Served: Orange

 

Circle K Life Book Project
UNC Circle K interviewed 15 residents at Brookshire Nursing Center in Hillsborough to chronicle their lives in a life story scrapbook. The Life Book was unveiled at a dance in which 35 residents attended. The Life Book is now on display at Brookshire for all residents, staff, and visitors to enjoy. The project stimulated conversation between residents, staff, volunteers and family and built a foundation for similar projects in future years.
Community Partner: Brookshire Nursing Center
Total Hours of Service: 62
County Served: Northern Orange

 

Delta Delta Sigma Supply ENNEAD
Delta Delta Sigma, a pre-dental undergraduate student organization, works with the UNC School of Dentistry ENNEAD Society of Dental Volunteers to educate the community about the importance of good oral hygiene. Seagraves funds purchased three oral hygiene puppets for use at current and future health fairs, elementary schools and free clinics, as a fun way to motivate children to brush and floss their teeth correctly.
Community Partner: ENNEAD
Total Hours of Service: 35 and counting
Counties Served: All

Heels on Housing Assisting Families in Foreclosure
Members of Heels on Housing, a student organization of the UNC School of Law, produced and mailed “Foreclosure: What You Need to Know” brochures to 150 borrowers in Durham and Orange counties who are approaching foreclosure. The brochures included information about the foreclosure process, homeowner rights, and agencies that can help.
Community Partner: Center for Responsible Lending
Total Hours of Service: 132
Counties Served: Durham, Orange

 

Hmong Student Association of Carolina College Fair
The Hmong Student Association of Carolina (HSAC) collaborated with Hmong students from Lenoir Rhyne College to organize a college fair and campus tours for families in Burke and Catawba Counties. The group addressed the limited access to higher education in the Hmong community due to linguistic challenges, socio-economic status and limited knowledge about the educational system. Fifty Hmong high school students participated.
Community Partner: Lenoir-Rhyne College HSAC
Total Hours of Service: 100
Counties Served: Burke, Catawba

 

Muslim Students Association Family Care Fair Day
The Muslim Students Association (MSA) partnered with the Mariam Clinic and the Islamic Association of Raleigh to host a free community health fair for underserved indigent immigrant populations. MSA’s role focused on publicizing the event to the Latino community. 650 individuals attended the fair; more than 300 received free blood work, 33 donated blood, and nine received free mammograms.
Community Partner: Mariam Clinic
Total Hours of Service: 50
Counties Served: Wake

 

Native Health Initiative A Day into Medicine
The Native Health Initiative (NHI) is a Carolina student initiative that aims to use the intellectual, financial and human capital resources of the UNC community to improve the poor health status of American Indians in North Carolina. NHI sponsored “A Day into Medicine” to inspire American Indian high school students to pursue careers in health care.
Community Partner: NC Health Careers ACCESS Program
Total Hours of Service: 27
Counties Served: Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Hoke, Orange, Person, Robeson, Sampson

 

Wesley Foundation Saturday Service Day: Gleaning
Members of the UNC Wesley Foundation salvaged (gleaned) sweet potatoes from farms and donated them to agencies who serve the poor. More than 5,000 pounds of potatoes were donated to three interfaith food shelters in Wake County. Participants learned about sustainability and the agriculture of North Carolina while aiding hunger relief efforts.
Community Partner: Society of St. Andrew
Total Hours of Service: 35
County Served: Wake

 

2005-2006 Grantees

American Medical Association
Seagraves funding supported the “Improving Meals and Physical Activity in Children and Teens” Program (IMPACT). By harnessing the power of peer influence and mentoring, empowering students to make healthy decisions, encouraging leadership, and having fun, the program improved nutrition and physical activity behaviors in both elementary and high school students through weekly nutrition and exercise sessions. The project took place over a period of 12 weeks and has set the foundation for continued collaboration of Orange County schools and UNC School of Medicine. A total of 60 elementary and high school students and 15 UNC students were involved in the program.
Total Hours of Service: 200
Community Served: Grady A. Brown Elementary School and Orange County High School

 

Best Buddies
Best Buddies partnered with Residential Services Incorporated to provide members and their buddies with a glimpse into a working farm in Cove City, NC. Best Buddies pairs college students with mentally disabled adults in the community, providing friendships and learning experiences. Throughout the day, members were able to spend time with and strengthen their relationships with their buddies through the many farm activities. In total, 55 individuals were served by the project and participated in this experience. Seagraves funds paid for the farm admission of all participants.
Total Hours of Service: 180
Community Served: Adults with developmental disabilities in Orange County

 

Big Buddies
Through the creation of the Reader's Club, Big Buddies encouraged children to read 180 minutes with their big buddy to improve their reading skills. Children who completed their reading logs were invited to a party and rewarded with pizza and a new book. Seagraves funds were used to purchase the books. Twenty UNC volunteers participated in the project, 30 children participated in the reading, and 15 children attended the party.
Total Hours of Service: 50
Community Served: Elementary aged children in Orange County

 

Heels on Housing
In collaboration with the Center for Responsible Lending, Heels on Housing developed a Foreclosure Bill of Rights for families facing foreclosure. The project began with a series of three foreclosure monitoring trainings designed to familiarize students with foreclosure law in North Carolina. These trainings helped students gain the necessary information to create the Bill of Rights. With the Seagraves grants, 150 pamphlets were printed and distributed to organizations that assist individuals with foreclosure, including Legal Aid offices, and the Center for Responsible Lending.
Total Hours of Service: approximately 100
Community Served: Families in foreclosure or approaching foreclosure in the Central Piedmont area

 

Hmong Student Association of Carolina (HSAC)
On a Saturday in early April, the Hmong Student Association of Carolina and NC State brought 126 high school students from Burke and Catawba Counties to Chapel Hill/Raleigh for a full day to tour both campuses. Guest speakers lectured about higher education, admissions, college life, and offered seniors the opportunity to compete for two scholarships. Students received information packets detailing how to apply to college, college necessities, and other helpful information. By promoting educational achievement in disadvantaged high school students, specifically of Hmong descent, HSAC created a meaningful experience for all involved. The Seagraves grant was used to fund transportation costs. HSAC has a website with details on this event here. The tour was a complete success for all parties involved. The future is always brighter when Hmong students can share their dreams and aspire together. - Yupheng Ly
Total Hours of Service: 400+
Community Served: Hmong high school students in Catawba and Burke Counties

 

Nourish International
Through a partnership with the women and children residents of the Inter-Faith Council's Project HomeStart, Nourish International created a sustainable vegetable garden and provided residents with the skills and knowledge to maintain the garden as a supplemental nutritional source. Every weekend since February, Nourish International members and HomeStart residents have worked to maintain the garden. Approximately 250 individuals live at Project HomeStart each year and could benefit from the garden. Moreover, the garden will continue to be cultivated over the summer and next year.
Total Hours of Service: 111
Community Served: Residents of Project HomeStart, a shelter for homeless women and children, in Orange County

 

Spanish-Speakers Assisting Latinos Student Association (SALSA)
In order to provide interpreting services for patients at the Student Health Action Coalition, a student-run free health clinic, SALSA recruited native Spanish speakers from the UNC romance languages department to act as clinic patients. Through simulated patient interviews 10 volunteer interpreters practiced interpreting medical/health issues. Roles were developed for each actor who had a set of key vocabulary for given illnesses, including words that are specific only to certain countries. Interviews were recorded and analyzed after each session to increase student learning. Each Wednesday throughout the semester, over 20 health clinic patients benefited from improved interpretation services.
Total Hours of Service: 40
Community Served: Spanish speaking SHAC patients and student interpreters in Orange County

 

Students for Organ Donation (SOD)
Students for Organ Donation educated high school students at East Chapel Hill High School about organ donation. Through an educational presentation and a question and answer session held in health classes, students were encouraged to become organ donors and raise awareness about organ donation in the community. SOD has already planned to continue this project next year and work to create student chapters at both East Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill High Schools.
Total Hours of Service: 50
Community Served: High school students at East Chapel Hill High School

 

2004-2005 Grantees

 

American Medical Women's Association
The American Medical Women's Association carried out the Healthy Choices project: a curriculum designed to help women in prison improve their knowledge regarding issues affecting their physical and emotional well-being. Over five small group sessions lasting two hours each, Healthy Choices taught those imprisoned at Raleigh Correctional Center for Women about good health and helped them develop a sense of community with other women. Most of these women will be returning to society at large; AMWA sought to give them the opportunity to be well informed and make healthy choices. Seagraves funding was used to purchase refreshments and food as well as for printing and binding.
Total Expenses: $250
Community Served: 12 inmates at the Raleigh Correctional Center for Women
Total Hours of Service: 66

 

Best Buddies
Best Buddies is an international non-profit organization that strives to enrich the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. The UNC-Chapel Hill chapter of Best Buddies pairs college students with mentally disabled adults in the community, providing friendships and learning experiences for both. This Seagraves Grant supported a day-long trip to the Asheboro Zoo for 22 UNC students and a total of 71 best buddies; the trip was completed in collaboration with Duke University's Best Buddies Organization. Outings are designed to place the buddies in a social atmosphere where they can interact comfortably in the "real world." Funding was used for transportation costs, refreshments, and prizes for outstanding buddy pairs.
Total Expenses: $296.07
Community Served: adults with intellectual disabilities from Orange and Durham Counties
Total Hours of Service: 232

 

Criminal Justice Action and Awareness (Campus Y)
Ten members of CJAA volunteered Wednesday evenings at the Durham County Youth Home (DYH), a correctional facility for juvenile offenders between the ages of 12 and 17. Funding was used to create a book club as well as invest in durable art supplies, journals for creative writing workshops, and other educational materials. Especially successful activities included a poetry workshop and a challenging, eye-opening look at the realities facing minorities in America. The youth at DYH often suffer from boredom and neglect - CJAA activities helped inspire 20 young adults to gain a broadened perspective and know that people care about them.
Total Expenses: $297.95
Community Served: juvenile detainees at the Durham County Youth Home
Total Hours of Service: 230

 

Las Guapitas (Campus Y)
Las Guapitas is a group of female Carolina students who visited McDougle Middle School every Friday afternoon to mentor a group of 6th, 7th and 8th grade Hispanic girls. This program aimed to promote self-esteem and encourage the pursuit of higher education. Las Guapitas is in its third year and has achieved success as a positive influence on the girls. Seagraves funding was used for a celebration dinner involving families as well as a year-end trip to Ocean Isle. See newspaper story about how mentors help young Latinas through the Seagraves Service Grants!
Total Expenses: $300
Community Served: 12 latina girls from McDougle Middle School
Total Hours of Service: 360

 

Senior Marshal Service Committee
The Senior Marshal Service Committee worked with underserved elementary-age children during afterschool programs (sponsored by the Orange County Family Resource Centers) by helping them develop their literacy skills and artistic talents. Committee members devoted individual attention to 40 children over five Fridays in Fall 2004 and nine Fridays in Spring 2005. This project included an end-of-the-year gathering with the children and their families to celebrate their achievements and showcase their works of literature and art including poetry, autobiographies, and seasonal crafts. Seagraves funding was used to purchase art and literature supplies as well as food and drink for the end-of-year picnic.
Total Expenses: $266.82
Community Served: elementary school-age children in Orange County
Total Hours of Service: 210

 

Special Libraries Association, Student Chapter
Seagraves funding was used to create a small lending library at Project Homestart, a homeless shelter for women and children in Chapel Hill. The new lending library provides 51 books for the residents of the shelter to read to their children. Books are categorized according to reading levels as well as content: non-fiction, poetry, feeling, biography, and bilingual. The goal of this project was to promote literacy in a disadvantaged, low-income population of the community. SLA hopes that the library will 1) encourage parents to read to their children; 2) empower children to read alone; and 3) prepare children for school.
Total Expenses: $300
Community Served: low income women and children in Chapel Hill
Total Hours of Service: 105

 

Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) Outreach - Pharmacy School Members
During three clinics, volunteer pharmacy students provided blood glucose checks and blood pressure measurement services to help identify members of the Lattisville Grove Community at risk for diabetes and hypertension. Seagraves funding was used to purchase necessary equipment that can also be utilized in future clinics. In addition, Pharmacy students were involved with active counseling sessions for the patients. Students helped by providing specific therapeutic and lifestyle recommendations.
Total Expenses: $298.46
Community Served: underserved Orange County residents near Lattisville Grove Missionary Baptist Church
Total Hours of Service: 150

 

Student Poverty Reduction Outreach
SPROUT members provided direct support (including two members serving as certified tax preparers and three members serving as tax prep assistants) for local VITA sites at the UNC School of Law and the Chapel Hill Senior Center. The project served over 1,900 low- to moderate-income people of Orange County by ensuring that they maximize their tax refund and thus their income. A significant percentage of the "working poor" in Orange County do not claim their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and/or Child Tax Credit(s) on their tax refunds each year. This project created strong, constructive ties between the University and the community and served to raise student awareness about the plight of the working poor in our community and beyond. Seagraves funding was used to print flyers for VITA sites as well as purchase food and refreshments for VITA site clients and volunteers.
Total Expenses: $109.93
Community Served: working poor in Chapel Hill and Carroboro, Orange County
Total Hours of Service: 100

Tuberculosis Awareness Group
The Tuberculosis Awareness Group provided 40 care packages of toiletries and other basic necessities for tuberculosis patients undergoing their two-week isolation period for treatment. These patients are generally overlooked particularly the homeless that do not have the help of family members. Thanks to Seagraves funding, TAG delivered the packages to the Orange County Health Department for dispersement to tuberculosis patients in counties including Wake, Mecklenburg, and Guilford---all of whom will know that they are not alone in their battle.
Total Expenses: $276.02
Community Served: indigent tuberculosis patients throughout NC
Total Hours of Service: 45

 

UNC Teen Court
Carolina Teen Court Assistance provided Trial Advocacy Training for Orange and Chatham Counties Teen Court Programs. A total of four Skill Enhancement Sessions (two each for Orange and Chatham County programs) were held for 25 teens. The Teen Court system is an alternative sentencing program for youth offenders who have committed minor offenses. In Teen Court, high school and middle school students volunteer as lawyers to prosecute and defend their peers. UNC law students designed and implemented a curriculum and training manual in addition to holding workshops for student volunteers in each county. Seagraves funding was used to purchase necessary supplies and refreshments for the Skill Sessions.
Total Expenses: $150
Community Served: teens in Hillsboro, Orange County and Pittsboro, Chatham County
Total Hours of Service: 45

 

Women in Law, UNC School of Law
Women in Law revised a comprehensive guide to women's rights under North Carolina law entitled Women and the Law: A Handbook for North Carolina. Women in Law began this publication in 1975; the most recent edition (from 1996) has now been updated due to important changes in state law. The handbook is designed to educate women of our state about their rights in a range of areas including social welfare, reproductive health, domestic violence, finances, marriage, divorce, and employment. Look at Women and the Law: A Handbook for North Carolina. One thousand copies were printed and sent to 685 community resource centers across the state. Nineteen law students and sixteen UNC Professors of Law and Government donated their time. Seagraves funding was used for design costs.
Total Expenses: $300
Community Served: female residents in all cities and every county of NC
Total Hours of Service: 250