 Arnand Perala |
Campus Life and Volunteer and Community Services at SUNY Fredonia has received an AmeriCorps VISTA grant for the third consecutive year to promote greater student involvement in local service organizations. The new grant has brought Anand Perala, a volunteer with the agency, to the campus.
“The primary goal of our project is to increase volunteer participation among SUNY Fredonia student organizations and build lasting partnerships with local community service organizations in Chautauqua County,” Mr. Perala said. The focus of the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) project at SUNY Fredonia is serving both youth groups and the elderly.
“By providing social and personal development activities, students can make a real positive impact in this community while they are here and have life changing experiences in the process,” Mr. Perala said.
A recent graduate of Buffalo State College with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Mr. Perala was very active in his campus community. He served on the Student Government Senate as vice president of Amnesty International, helped organize food and clothing drives on campus and worked on several environmental projects. He is from Clarence, N.Y., and has also participated in various community outreach programs.
“Anand understands the needs of the people in the community and has good, solid field experience,” said Joyce Smith, coordinator of Volunteer and Community Services at SUNY Fredonia.
The Fredonia grant was received with assistance from the New York Campus Compact, a statewide association of colleges and universities committed to promoting active citizenship as a goal of higher education.
Founded in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson, VISTA became part of AmeriCorps in 1993. Its programs can serve a number of rolls, including community development and capacity building needs, increasing infrastructure for community service, community engagement, economic development and student involvement in schools and communities.
